The Cardinals Might Have a Kyler Murray Problem

The Cardinals could soon have one of the NFL’s most expensive backup quarterbacks.

On Monday, the team beat the Cowboys 27–17 behind Jacoby Brissett, who threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns while running in another in the win. Brissett was filling in for Kyler Murray, who missed his third consecutive game with a foot injury. 

In his absence, Brissett has thrown for six touchdowns and just one interception. During Monday’s game, ESPN/ABC broadcasters Joe Buck and Troy Aikman both said they expect the Cardinals to stick with Brissett when Murray gets healthy. However, Cardinals head coach Jonanthan Gannon said Murray will be the starter when he returns, which could be as early as Sunday. 

“Nothing’s changed,” Gannon said when asked about his team’s quarterback situation. 

When asked further about starting Brissett over Murray, Gannon didn’t elaborate. 

“I got nothing to add on that, guys,” he said.

With Murray injured, the offense has clearly been better. In three games with Brissett as the starter, the Cardinals have averaged 25.7 points and 256.3 passing yards per game. With Murray, the Cardinals averaged just 18.8 points and 170.2 yards in five games. 

The Cardinals have a lot of money committed to Murray.

In 2022, he signed a five-year, $230.5 million contract extension with the Cardinals that expires at the end of the 2028 season. The deal has an average annual value of $46.1 million. Murray still has three years and roughly $125 million left on the contract. About $40 million of his 2026 salary is already guaranteed and $19.5 million of his 2027 salary will be guaranteed on March 15, 2026, according to Spotrac. The final two years of Murray’s deal aren’t guaranteed. 

The NFL trade deadline is 4 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, but it would be a surprise if Murray is moved given his injury and expensive salary. A team would be taking on $125 million in salary over the next three years, with $60 million guaranteed. Even if Murray is traded, the Cardinals will have a dead cap hit of roughly $18 million in 2026. But outside of a trade the Cardinals options with Murray are limited for financial relief. 

If the Cardinals release Murray in March, he will carry a cap hit of roughly $58 million in dead money, according to Spotrac, with $40 million of it coming from his 2026 guaranteed salary. Waiting until June 2, allows the Cardinals to split the figure over two seasons, with a $50.5 million hit in 2026, and $7.2 million in 2027. 

Murray could return as soon as Sunday against the Seahawks and will be tasked with maintaining the offense’s improvement while he was injured. If he can’t, it will likely make for a tough–and expensive decision–with the team’s front office.