Cardinals Projected to Move on From Kyler Murray After 2023
The future of Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray - both near and distant - will continue to be a talking point even after he returns from his ACL injury.
Under the guidance of new Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort, the team has begun a new era of a rebuild that's already off to a tremendous start.
The fruits of his wheeling-and-dealing include two first-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. Between the Cardinals and Houston Texans, it's widely believed Arizona will have a prime chance at landing a franchise quarterback at the top of the draft.
Could this be Murray's last year in the desert?
Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox pinned Murray as one of six quarterbacks who are likely to change teams after the 2023 season.
"The reality here is that Murray's situation could be out of his hands. He probably won't be on the field early this season, and the Cardinals roster is one of the most lackluster in the league. Arizona, which also owns the Houston Texans' 2024 first-round, could end up with two top-five selections next spring," wrote Knox.
"That could mean a shot at Williams or Maye, and a front office that didn't draft Murray could jump on that opportunity. The caveat here is that Murray's contract will still have $81.5 million in dead money remaining next offseason.
"Of course, if the Cardinals view a 2024 prospect as a clear upgrade over Murray, it could trade the 25-year-old after June 1 and save $38.9 million off the 2024 cap.
"The financials could make moving Murray difficult, but if a quarterback-needy team misses out on a top prospect, it could be willing to take on Murray as a reclamation project."
ESPN's Dan Graziano previously explored Murray's contract and how Arizona could go about their business:
"The key date for the Cardinals is the start of the 2024 league year, at which time nearly $31 million in guaranteed 2025 salary and bonuses becomes fully guaranteed," said Graziano.
"If the Cardinals decide to cut Murray after the 2023 season, they'll have paid him $103.3 million for two years of service and they'd incur a dead-money cap hit of about $81.5 million in 2024 (or, if they cut him post-June 1, $48.3 million in 2024 and $33.2 million in 2025)."
Financially - it's tough to find a team willing to take Murray's deal on, especially with his injury. 2023 could be very telling for Arizona, especially how Murray returns in action. The temptation for a new front office - who in theory is not tied to Murray - to potentially grab USC quarterback Caleb Williams next year will be a constant storyline around the Cardinals until their fates are revealed at the draft itself.
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