Top Trade Packages for Kyler Murray Amid NFL Offseason Rumors

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray was not one of the big names traded at Tuesday's deadline. However, his future in Arizona is questionable at absolute best.

The Cardinals announced that Jacoby Brissett would get another start early in the week, which could easily lead some to believe that head coach Jonathan Gannon prefers the veteran pocket passer to Murray. Of course, that's not the only reason why Murray's name surfaced at the trade deadline or why it'll come up again in the offseason.

Murray has never delivered a playoff win, and he was the product of a previous regime. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Cardinals and Murray are expected to have "extensive discussions" to determine what's next—with a split being likely.

"A separation is imminent," one source told Schefter.

Here, you'll find a look at Arizona's options, Murray's projected trade value and which teams might be interested if he is indeed available.

Arizona's Options and How We Got Here

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Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon talks with Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray during practice on Thursday, July 24, 2025

Why would the Cardinals give up on Murray, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft, after seven seasons? It starts with the fact that the 28-year-old has never won anything of note and hasn't really improved as an in-structure passer.

Arizona's offense has been better with Brissett passing from the pocket this season—by a full five points per game—than with Murray behind center. While Murray oozes athletic talent, he may have hit his ceiling with this franchise. If that ceiling is a blowout playoff loss, the Cardinals should want more.

Gannon and general manager Monti Ossenfort, who were both hired in 2023, may want their quarterback.

If the Cardinals are truly ready to move on from Murray after seven seasons, they essentially have two options. They can release him—likely with a post-June 1 designation—or they can put him on the trade table.

$19.5 million of Murray's 2027 base salary will become guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2026 league year, which will begin on March 11. Cutting Murray outright would create a dead-cap hit of just over $57.7 million while creating a $4.5 million cap deficit. Releasing him with a post-June 1 designation would split the dead-cap hit between 2026 and 2027 and save $2.7 million.

Trading Murray before June 1 would trigger a $17.9 million dead-cap hit but save $35.3 million in cap space. Trading him after June 1 would save $42.5 million in cap space.

Aside from getting compensation in a deal, the trade route would be most beneficial for Arizona. However, releasing him will be an option if the team just wants a clean break. We saw the Denver Broncos make a similar move with Russell Wilson just two years ago.

And the Cardinals should find some trade interest.

Murray's Market Value

AP Photo/Samantha Chow

Kyler Murray

The 2026 draft class is still a bit murky at quarterback, and Murray does possess that always-enticing "potential." Given the recent success of Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones, someone will want a piece of the Murray Reclamation Project.

"I just think overall there's gonna be some interest cause he's just extremely talented," Hall of Famer Kurt Warner said, per Theo Mackie of the Arizona Republic. "... He's a gifted, gifted thrower. He's a gifted player. We've seen him play at a high, high level. Even being in the MVP consideration at times in his career. And so there is a lot there to build off of."

As Warner noted, Murray did show high-level play early in his career, earning Offensive Rookie of the Year and two Pro Bowl nods in his first three seasons. That's a ceiling we didn't see out of Mayfield, Darnold or Jones during their first NFL stops.

Therefore, the Cardinals probably won't have to settle for a late-round pick just to offload Murray's contract. That contract, for the record, would be reasonable for his next team. Murray's base salaries in 2026 and 2027 will be just $22.8 million and $19.5 million, respectively. His deal also includes a team option for the 2028 season.

How might a "fair" offer for Murray look? The Indianapolis Colts' 2021 trade for Carson Wentz serves as a solid comp. Like Murray, Wentz was a high draft pick (No. 2 overall) who had early success before suffering a significant knee injury and then falling out of favor with the team that drafted him. Both quarterbacks signed lucrative second contracts three years into their careers.

The Indianapolis Colts sent a 2021 third-round pick and a 2022 first-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for Wentz.

The situations aren't exactly the same, of course. The Eagles had their next quarterback in Jalen Hurts, while Brissett isn't a long-term answer for Arizona. Murray is also two years deeper into his NFL career than Wentz was when he was dealt. However, the Wentz deal should serve as a starting point for any Murray offer.

Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Kirk Irwin

Browns QB Shedeur Sanders

Cleveland Browns Receive: QB Kyler Murray

Arizona Cardinals Receive: 2026 3rd-Round Pick, 2027 2nd-Round Pick, QB Shedeur Sanders

Why Cleveland Does It

The Cleveland Browns may consider acquiring another veteran in 2026 if A.) the 2026 draft class doesn't leave a top prospect within their draft range and B.) neither Dillon Gabriel nor Shedeur Sanders shows enough promise to consider building around one of them.

Gabriel certainly hasn't looked like a long-term starter, and Sanders hasn't seen the regular-season field yet. The problem is that Cleveland may stumble into too many wins to chase a top 2026 QB prospect, especially if only one or two enter the draft.

Now, it's hard to know how Cleveland's approach to team-building will look following the departure of chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta. However, the financials could be important here.

The Browns are facing a tricky cap situation because Deshaun Watson is still on the books. However, they're projected to have $18.2 million in cap space next year. Creating the space to absorb Murray's $22.8 million base salary wouldn't be nearly as difficult as, say, trying to sign Jones on the open market.

Why Arizona Does It

The Cardinals might not be able to pry a first-round pick away from Cleveland after the Browns were so badly burned by the Watson trade. However, Cleveland isn't expected to be particularly good over the next couple of years, meaning the third- and second-round picks in this hypothetical trade could be close in value to second- and first-rounders.

Arizona could also take a flier on Sanders, a rookie fifth-round pick whose ceiling might be far higher than his draft status would suggest—Sanders was the 23rd-ranked prospect on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's final draft board.

Sanders will probably get his opportunity in Cleveland before the season is over. If he flounders with the Browns, though, it won't mean that he can't succeed with a functional offensive line and a quality receiving corps. At worst, he'd give the Cardinals an intriguing developmental project.

Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Raiders head coach Pete Carroll

Las Vegas Raiders Receive: QB Kyler Murray

Arizona Cardinals Receive: 2026 3rd-Round Pick, 2027 1st-Round Pick

Why Las Vegas Does It

The Las Vegas Raiders were hoping that Geno Smith would answer their quarterback questions on a semi-permanent basis—they traded for him and then extended him through 2027.

While Smith certainly hasn't been Las Vegas' only problem, he hasn't pushed the Raiders into AFC West contention. If the Raiders can find a viable alternative, they can release him with a post-June 1 designation in the spring and save $8 million in cap space.

Any interest in a quarterback like Murray would likely hinge on Las Vegas' spot in the draft order and its chances of drafting a high-floor prospect. Head coach Pete Carroll is 74 and will be looking to win sooner than later.

Carroll has also worked with an undersized dual-threat quarterback before in Russell Wilson. Murray's scrambling ability could be a boon to Chip Kelly's offense, and the Raiders do have a strong skill group that could support the former Pro Bowler.

Why Arizona Does It

The Cardinals would likely wind up with a high third-round pick in 2026 with this deal, and they could bank on Murray not turning around the Raiders' fortunes, which would mean a high first-round pick in 2027.

If Arizona is hoping to draft its next franchise quarterback, that could be huge.

As The Athletic's Dane Brugler recently told The Dan Patrick Show, the 2027 quarterback class is looking a lot more promising than next year's group.

"I know it's very cliché to say, 'Oh, just wait for next year's class, it's going to be better.' Scouts, they look at it and they think that's kind of true this year," Brugler told fill-in host Ross Tucker.

New York Jets

AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar

Jets QB Justin Fields

New York Jets Receive: QB Kyler Murray

Arizona Cardinals Receive: 2026 2nd-Round Pick, Conditional 2027 1st-Round Pick, QB Justin Fields

Why New York Does It

The New York Jets could target a veteran like Murray if they don't fall within draft range of a top 2026 prospect. Justin Fields hasn't looked like a long-term answer, and Tyrod Taylor is a good veteran backup at best.

Theoretically, the Jets could audition Murray for a year and cut ties in 2027 if he doesn't elevate the offense.

New York is clearly comfortable with the idea of trying out an unconventional dual-threat quarterback and former first-round disappointment, which is exactly what it did with Fields. The Jets own three 2027 first-round picks and could structure this deal so that they keep the two highest selections if Murray doesn't return to Pro Bowl form. That would give them the option of still chasing a top QB prospect next year if Murray doesn't pan out.

If Murray were to reestablish himself as a high-end starter, the Jets would have plenty of draft capital with which to build around him in 2027. They could also offload Justin Fields' $20 million base salary in the process.

Why Arizona Does It

Taking on Fields' 2026 salary—on top of paying the dead money on Murray's deal—would be a financial burden. However, it would give the Cardinals a potential bridge starter in 2026, possibly one they could platoon with Brissett, who is in the first year of a two-year deal.

This trade would also next Arizona a second-round pick in next year's draft—the Jets have two but no third-round selection—and an interesting gamble in 2027.

This trade could be structured so that the Cardinals get the lowest of New York's three 2027 first-round picks if Murray continues to disappoint. If he returns to form and meets other criteria—delivers a division title or a playoff win, etc.—the Cardinals could get the highest of New York's picks.

In other words, Arizona could double down on its lack of belief in Murray.

Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin

Pittsburgh Steelers Receive: QB Kyler Murray

Arizona Cardinals Receive: 2026 3rd-Round Pick, 2027 1st-Round Pick, RB Kaleb Johnson

Why Pittsburgh Does It

The Pittsburgh Steelers could become interested in Murray if Aaron Rodgers decides not to sign up for another season at age 42.

Assuming Mike Tomlin is still the head coach in 2026, the Steelers will be looking to extend their run of relevance, and they'll need a quarterback if Rodgers has decided to call it a career.

Murray would probably be more of a game-manager in Pittsburgh, which could help with his development. His dual-threat ability would also work in Arthur Smith's offense—the Steelers were interested in bringing back Justin Fields before they pivoted to Rodgers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Murray's contract would give the Steelers two seasons to evaluate him before making any long-term decisions.

Why Arizona Does It

Pittsburgh possesses two third-round picks because of the George Pickens trade, and Arizona could ask for the higher of the two. Since the Steelers are likely to pick lower in the draft order than other potential suitors, the Cardinals might want a deal-sweetener as well.

In this hypothetical scenario, the Steelers include running back Kaleb Johnson, a rookie third-round pick out of Iowa. He's only seen the field for 31 offensive snaps this season, but he could have more value to the Cardinals than the Steelers.

Cardinals running back James Conner will be 31 in the spring and coming off of a season-ending ankle injury.

*Contract and cap information via Spotrac. Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference.