PHOENIX — The Kyler Murray era in Arizona is flatlining. The Cardinals are preparing to release the 28-year-old quarterback this offseason, actively abandoning a massive contract extension to clear the decks for head coach Mike LaFleur. The financial math simply does not support a trade, and the front office is ready to pull the plug.
You could almost feel the tension inside the Cardinals’ facility this winter as the reality of the situation set in. Arizona holds Jacoby Brissett under contract, but the real target is already surfacing. Free agent quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is highly interested in reuniting with LaFleur, making him a primary option to take the snaps in 2026.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano reports the odds heavily favor a direct release. The money tells the entire story. Murray carries $36.8 million in fully guaranteed salary this year. If the front office keeps him on the roster through the third day of the 2026 league year, another $19.5 million becomes fully guaranteed for 2027.
Graziano explicitly notes that rival general managers will not sacrifice significant draft capital to absorb that much guaranteed cash. The 2019 top pick signed a massive five-year, $230.5 million extension back in 2022. He played just five games in 2025, completing 68.3 percent of his passes for 962 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions. He added 173 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. The production no longer matches the price tag. The Cardinals want out, and cutting him provides the cleanest exit strategy.
With Murray heading out the door, Arizona needs a reliable triggerman. Jeremy Fowler reports that Garoppolo heading to the desert is a “strong option.” LaFleur and Garoppolo built a strong connection during their recent tenure with the Los Angeles Rams. They speak the exact same offensive language. The Packers are also sniffing around, but the Arizona link carries serious weight.
“That’s his guy.”
— League Source, per Jeremy Fowler
Garoppolo, now 34, spent 2024 and 2025 with the Rams after a rocky exit from Las Vegas. He made the most of his limited action behind Matthew Stafford. In his lone start during the 2024 season, Garoppolo carved up the defense, completing 65.9 percent of his throws for 334 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. The veteran knows how to manage a locker room and execute a rhythm-based passing attack.
Releasing Murray sends a massive shockwave through the NFC West. The Cardinals are hitting the hard reset button on their franchise timeline. Signing Garoppolo gives LaFleur a trusted field general who can execute his system from day one, keeping the offense competitive while the front office rebuilds the defensive roster. If Arizona secures Garoppolo, they immediately stabilize the most important position on the field. Murray, meanwhile, will hit the open market as the most polarizing free agent in football, instantly becoming a high-risk, high-reward target for quarterback-needy teams in the AFC.
