Kyler Murray could leave Cardinals, stay in NFC West

Kyler Murray’s Arizona Cardinals future is anything but certain. The 28-year-old was both injured and/or benched by the Cardinals during the 2025-26 season, depending on who you believe.

What isn’t up for debate is Murray’s struggles. After being named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year (2019) and earning back-to-back trips to the Pro Bowl (’20 and ’21), Murray has struggled with consistency and injuries.

The Heisman-winning QB played just 30 games over the last three seasons, including only five during the 2025-26 campaign. A late 2023 ACL injury and a 2025 foot injury were most responsible for sidelining the gunslinger. In addition to his injuries, his yards per attempt dropped to a career-low 6.0 this past fall, and he’s won just 13 of his last 30 starts.

His inconsistencies, massive salary (he’s set to earn just under $50 million for the 2026 campaign), lack of winning and offseason coaching change have led many to speculate that Murray’s time in the desert will soon come to an end.

It’s unlikely another team would be willing or able to absorb his contract as is, so Arizona may opt to take the dead-cap hit (more than $50 million), wipe the slate clean and start anew with rookie head coach Mike LaFleur and a QB of his choice.

Should that happen, Murray might find himself in a backup role under the bright lights of Hollywood as a Los Angeles Ram.

Kyler Murray signed a five-year extension with Arizona in 2022

Matthew Stafford, L.A.’s 38-year-old starter, confirmed earlier this week that he’s returning for the 2026 season (as the league’s reigning MVP). Most assume it’ll be Stafford’s last under center. In that case, Sean McVay and the Rams need a succession plan in place for a contending roster that’s reasonably young at most positions.

Enter Murray. He was drafted to Arizona by Kliff Kingsbury, who just joined the Rams’ coaching staff earlier in the week. Kingsbury coached Murray in each of his three most successful seasons (2019, ’20, ’21), seasons in which Murray set career highs in passing yards, touchdowns and quarterback rating.

Murray gets knocked for his size (5-foot-10), but that shouldn’t bother Sean McVay, who had similarly sized Baker Mayfield backing up Stafford for the second half of the 2022 season. Mayfield has remarked that his time with McVay and the Rams resurrected his career.

Maybe most importantly, Murray’s likely to come at a significant discount, should he be available. Arizona’s likely going to foot the bill, meaning Los Angeles would seemingly be able to get Murray at a discount. The QB could spend a season learning under Stafford, McVay and Kingsbury (again) then take the reins once Stafford retires.

It’s a script made for Hollywood. How convenient.