Kyler Murray Next Team: Where Will He Play in 2026?

Kyler Murray could be on the move ahead of the 2026 season – but where he goes, and what the team acquiring him would be getting, is a genuine mystery.

Here’s a look at the most pertinent questions facing one of the most enigmatic quarterbacks in the NFL as his long-term situation with the Arizona Cardinals comes into focus:

🌍 Where does Kyler Murray currently play?

Murray has spent all seven of his NFL seasons with the team that made him the first overall pick in 2019, choosing to pass up a potential baseball career as a two-sport phenom for an immediate starting spot on the gridiron.

Murray showed immediate promise, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year while throwing for 20 touchdowns and rushing for four more. He was even better the following season, earning Pro Bowl honors for his 37 combined touchdowns (26 passing, 11 rushing) while leading the Cardinals to a respectable 8-8 record.

Arizona improved to 9-5 in 2021 behind 29 combined touchdowns from Murray, but the diminutive QB went just 16-25 in the seasons that followed and was limited to just five games in 2025 due to injury. In that five-game span, he completed only six touchdown passes while adding just one TD on the ground.

🔮 Why is Kyler Murray’s future being discussed?

Being limited to five games this past season certainly left fans with a sour taste – but Murray's subpar performances over the previous three seasons had sown seeds of doubt among league pundits and fans long before his uneven 2025 campaign.

Murray combined for 70 touchdowns in his first three NFL seasons but has just 51 since. Poor decision-making has been more common in recent years, and his commitment to preparation has been questioned repeatedly; Murray’s love of Call of Duty has become a running punchline, with the COD jokes resurfacing every time he underperforms.

With the Cardinals putting up more of a fight with Murray sidelined and backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett under center, rumblings persist that the team may be approaching a crossroads with Murray as an offseason decision looms.

💰 What is Kyler Murray's contract situation?

Kyler Murray is signed to a five-year, $230.5 million contract extension with the Arizona Cardinals, an agreement he finalized in July 2022 that runs through the 2028 season. The deal carries an average annual value north of $46 million and firmly places Murray among the NFL’s highest-paid quarterbacks from a cash and cap perspective.

While the headline number is massive, the key element of Murray’s contract is its guarantee structure. More than $100 million of the deal is guaranteed, with additional future salaries set to vest based on roster triggers early in upcoming league years. Most notably, a substantial portion of his 2026 compensation is already locked in, meaning Arizona faces real financial consequences if it were to move on before that point.

As a result, Murray’s contract creates a narrow decision window for the Cardinals. Releasing him outright would result in a significant dead-cap hit, while a trade would still require Arizona to absorb guaranteed money already paid. In practical terms, the structure of the deal makes Murray a long-term financial commitment unless the team is willing to stomach major cap pain, which heavily influences any discussion about his future.

🕗 When could Kyler Murray realistically change teams?

The timing of a potential Murray move depends heavily on the type of transaction. 

Largely for salary cap reasons (which we'll explain in detail in the next section), if Murray is to be released by the Cardinals, it would likely happen on or after June 1, when Arizona's salary cap hit would be significantly lower. If the team can work out a trade, it would save $7.2 million against its cap if the deal were completed before June 1.

The Cardinals might prefer to have a decision made prior to the start of free agency in mid-March; that would allow the team to focus on draft pick compensation, which it could then put to use at the NFL Draft at the end of April.

⚙️ What factors would influence a Kyler Murray move?

Money is likely to be the determining factor in whether Murray changes addresses. Simply put, the Cardinals have significant financial considerations tied to his contract — but that same deal also makes him extraordinarily difficult to trade for anything of value.

ESPN's Josh Weinfuss breaks down the financial impact of a Murray move based on timing and transaction type:

*An additional $7.2 million of dead cap would apply to the Cardinals in 2027.

Teams interested in Murray might wait for the Cardinals to release him, as the financial burden would be much lower if they were able to sign him to a new contract — particularly given that he would still earn nearly $50 million from the Cardinals even if released.

Conversely, the Cardinals might decide that the financial burden of moving on is too significant and keep Murray on the team.

📋 What types of teams would make sense for Kyler Murray?

Finding an immediate starting job elsewhere could prove challenging for Murray – particularly given the disconnect between his high salary and his recent inconsistent performance.

A handful of teams could be in the market for a new No. 1 quarterback in 2026, particularly those facing contract uncertainty or short-term solutions at the position. Several other teams could certainly use an experienced backup, but that might not appeal to Murray (though he wouldn’t have much choice were he to be traded outright).

At this stage of his career, Murray may be more likely to face a limited starting market, given the shortage of open roles and his less-than-impressive resume since 202

🤔 Is Kyler Murray likely to still be with Arizona in 2026?

Despite making the Pro Bowl twice and looking every bit like a worthy No. 1 overall pick in his first three seasons in Arizona, Murray’s long-term future with the Cardinals appears increasingly uncertain.

Whether Arizona opts to stick with an internal option, wades into the free-agent pool, or takes a shot on a rookie in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Cardinals have plenty of alternatives should they decide to move on from Murray. And with his performance in recent years doing little to justify his near-$50 million price tag, a mutual parting of the ways appears more plausible than at any point in his tenure.

It’s no certainty that Murray will be wearing a different uniform in 2026, but questions around Arizona’s long-term plan at quarterback continue to grow louder.

📊 What is the most realistic outlook for Kyler Murray's next team?

If Murray winds up in a backup role somewhere outside Arizona, the team that acquires him would be adding one of the most experienced No. 2 QBs in the league — and someone who could capably step in should its starting quarterback struggle or suffer an injury.

It's difficult to say how big an impact Murray will have on any franchise in the backup role, but if pressed into service, he has the skills and experience to outperform the majority of second-string quarterbacks league-wide. And that counts for a lot in a topsy-turvy NFL, where key players are sidelined every week.

❓ Kyler Murray next team FAQs

Where will Kyler Murray play in 2026?

As things stand, Murray is more likely to be playing outside Arizona than remaining with the Cardinals. If he does change teams, the most realistic scenario would see him entering the season as a high-end backup or spot starter rather than an entrenched No. 1 quarterback.

Could Kyler Murray be traded during the 2026 season?

It's unlikely. In-season quarterback trades are rare, particularly for players with large contracts. Any Murray move would be far more likely to happen during the offseason, when teams can better manage cap implications and roster planning.

Does Kyler Murray have a no-trade clause?

No. Murray does not have a no-trade clause in his contract, meaning Arizona would not need his approval to complete a trade.

Would Kyler Murray’s contract make him difficult to trade?

Yes. Murray’s contract structure significantly limits the trade market, as acquiring teams would need to absorb a substantial salary while Arizona would still carry dead cap charges. That dynamic makes a release more realistic than a trade in some scenarios.

Is Kyler Murray more likely to change teams via trade or release?

A release would likely create more flexibility for both sides. A trade would require a willing partner prepared to take on Murray’s contract, while a release would allow interested teams to negotiate a new deal under different financial terms.

Could Kyler Murray still start games elsewhere if he leaves Arizona?

Yes. Even if he enters a new situation as a backup, Murray’s experience and athletic profile make him a viable spot starter or injury replacement, particularly on teams lacking proven depth at quarterback.