Bold claim: the Arizona Cardinals’ move to cut Kyler Murray could redefine their 2026 plans, and yes, it just reshapes the entire quarterback landscape for Malik Willis and beyond. But here’s the tricky part you need to understand before jumping to conclusions...
The Cardinals have decided to part ways with Kyler Murray at the start of the new league year (March 11), a decision confirmed by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. This ends Murray’s run in Phoenix and opens a path for Malik Willis to step into the spotlight, should Arizona pursue him as the future signal-caller.
What makes this release financially intricate is the cap math. Murray would have carried a $52.7 million cap hit in 2026, but his release creates a $54.7 million cap charge for the Cardinals. Of that $54.7 million, $17.9 million is from signing bonuses already paid to Murray that will be accelerated onto the 2026 cap. The remaining $36.8 million represents guarantees ($36.8M guaranteed with offsets) due in 2026, which the Cardinals will continue to owe even though Murray won’t play for them in 2026.
This structure effectively nudges Murray toward accepting a minimum-salary deal somewhere in 2026, unless a new team offers him a contract that exceeds $36.8 million. In practice, the actual amount Murray earns hinges on who pays him; a minimum deal could leave the Cardinals in a tougher financial position than the team he signs with for 2026. This is the same dynamic that has allowed scenarios like the Minnesota Vikings to maintain quarterback options at lower cost.
If the Cardinals designate Murray as a post-June 1 release, the cap impact shifts temporarily. His $52.7 million charge would sit until June 1, at which point it would drop to $40.3 million, creating about $12.4 million in cap space after that date. However, this route would also generate an additional $14.4 million in dead cap for 2027. Unless Arizona plans to deploy that extra space for a mid-summer spending spree (which feels unlikely), the logical move is to absorb the cap immediately and clear the deck for 2027. There’s no reporting suggesting a post-June 1 designation for Murray at this time.
After accounting for the dead cap, Arizona would enter 2026 with roughly $28.7 million in cap space. If they pursue a Willis signing, expect Year 1 cap hits to exceed $10 million, and that assumes Willis signs a contract no longer than three years (likely two) given his starter experience.
So, if the Cardinals pivot from Murray to Willis, they would be sacrificing nearly half of their current offseason cap space to pursue a younger option who could be developed over a shorter, team-controlled window.
Would you like a quick side-by-side numerical breakdown of the cap implications Tier by tier, or a concise summary highlighting the key risks and opportunities for Arizona’s 2026 plan?
