Kyler Murray Released by Cardinals: What Went Wrong and Where He Could Land

Let's be clear about something right away: this is not another quarterback carousel story. This is not a reclamation project for a guy who never really had it. When the Arizona Cardinals informed Kyler Murray on Monday that they plan to release him on March 11 — the first day of the new NFL league year — they were cutting loose a two-time Pro Bowl quarterback, a former Heisman Trophy winner, and the No. 1 overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft. A player who, at his peak, was one of the most electrifying athletes in the entire league.

This is different. And it matters.

From Allen, Texas to the Top of the Draft

Murray's football story starts at Allen High School in Allen, Texas, where he posted a perfect 42-0 record as a starting quarterback and led his team to three consecutive state championships. He was the Gatorade Football Player of the Year, a five-star recruit, and — unusually for a football prospect — a legitimate first-round MLB talent simultaneously.

He enrolled at Texas A&M as a freshman in 2015, started three games, then transferred to Oklahoma, where he would eventually follow Baker Mayfield as the Sooners' starter. What happened next was remarkable: Murray's 2018 season at Oklahoma produced 4,946 yards of total offense, 51 touchdowns, a passer efficiency rating that was the best in Heisman Trophy history, and the award itself. He beat out Tua Tagovailoa and Dwayne Haskins to win it, becoming the second consecutive Oklahoma quarterback to take home college football's top honor.

The Oakland Athletics had already drafted Murray ninth overall in the 2018 MLB Draft, making him the only player ever drafted in the first round of both sports. He chose football. The Cardinals chose him first overall in 2019 — and a franchise-altering chapter began.

The Highs Were Real

It's worth spending time here, because the revisionist take — that Murray was always destined to fail — simply doesn't hold up.

He won AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2019. He earned back-to-back Pro Bowl selections in 2020 and 2021. His 2020 season remains his statistical peak: 3,971 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, 819 rushing yards, and 11 rushing scores. That same year, he delivered what became his signature moment — the "Hail Murray" touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins on the final play of a Week 10 game against the Buffalo Bills, one of the most memorable plays of the decade.

In 2021, he dragged the Cardinals to an 11-2 start and their first playoff berth since 2015, putting himself firmly in the MVP conversation at midseason.

He also belongs to exclusive statistical company. Murray is one of only three players in NFL history — alongside Josh Allen and Cam Newton — to throw for more than 20,000 yards and rush for more than 3,000 in a career. His dual-threat ability was not a gimmick. It put defensive coordinators in no-win scenarios every week. New Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur himself acknowledged as much just last week, calling Murray "always a problem" for opposing defenses.

Where It All Fell Apart

The table below tells the story more efficiently than any paragraph:

After two full healthy seasons to start his career, Murray never completed another full healthy campaign until 2024 — and even that healthy year produced a 3-14 Cardinals record. His 2025 season ended after five games with a right foot injury against the Tennessee Titans. Backup Jacoby Brissett stepped in and played well enough to create an awkward situation, and Murray was eventually placed on injured reserve.

The Cardinals — already dealing with a coaching change after firing Jonathan Gannon — entered 2026 under new head coach Mike LaFleur with their decision clearly made. Arizona owed Murray $36.8 million guaranteed for 2026 regardless. But another $19.5 million for 2027 would have triggered automatically if he remained on the roster past March 15. The Cardinals chose to absorb a dead cap hit of $54.7 million rather than continue. The Cardinals had also attempted to trade Murray before making the release official, with no takers emerging at his contract number.

Murray's farewell statement was gracious and forward-looking: "I truly believe my best ball is in front of me and I look forward to proving it."

Why This Isn't a Dead End

Here is where the Murray narrative gets genuinely compelling — and why the comparison to the typical quarterback journeyman misses the point.

Murray's career passer rating sits at 92.2. His completion percentage of 67.1% is legitimate. His rushing totals (3,193 yards, 32 touchdowns) rank third among quarterbacks active during his era, behind only Allen and Jalen Hurts. The talent was never the question. The durability and organizational stability around him were.

Crucially, Murray will cost his next team almost nothing in 2026. Because the Cardinals carry his $36.8 million guaranteed salary, Murray plays for the veteran minimum — approximately $1.3 million. Adam Schefter noted on NFL Network that Murray "becomes one of the top quarterbacks available in the free agent market" and can essentially choose his destination, similar to how Baker Mayfield revived his career after a difficult exit from Cleveland, re-establishing himself as a legitimate starter in Tampa Bay.

Murray reportedly already has two specific teams in mind, though the names have not been confirmed publicly.

The Landing Spot Race

Multiple teams have surfaced in early reporting as likely fits:

The Vikings angle has the most momentum in early reporting, with league sources confirming to NFL Network that Minnesota is a team to watch. Murray turns 29 in August — young enough for a meaningful multi-year run with the right situation, and experienced enough to step in immediately.

The Bottom Line

The Cardinals are left with a $54.7 million dead cap hit and a quarterback vacancy. Murray is left with his freedom, his guaranteed money, and a chance to prove that the version of himself that electrified defenses from 2019 to 2021 is still in there.

The college résumé — Heisman Trophy, No. 1 overall pick, a high school record that was essentially mythological — was always just the prologue. The NFL story wasn't the fairy tale Arizona hoped for. But whoever takes the call from Murray's camp in the next few days is getting a legitimate starting quarterback for essentially nothing. In this market, that's not a charity case. That's a competitive advantage.

Sources:

[1] ESPN — Cardinals to release Kyler Murray: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/48091996/sources-cardinals-tell-kyler-murray-released-next-week

[2] CBS Sports — Kyler Murray released, set to hit free agency: https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/kyler-murray-released-by-cardinals-free-agency/

[3] NFL.com — Cardinals inform Murray of release: https://www.nfl.com/news/cardinals-inform-qb-kyler-murray-they-will-release-him-at-start-of-new-league-year

[4] Yahoo Sports — 3 teams that could target Kyler Murray: https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/nfl-free-agency-2026-3-teams-that-could-target-kyler-murray-as-his-cardinals-chapter-comes-to-a-close-and-why-he-might-be-a-bargain-005249162.html

[5] ClutchPoints — Adam Schefter breaks down Murray free agent prospects: https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/arizona-cardinals/cardinals-news-adam-schefter-breaks-down-kyler-murray-free-agent-prospects

[6] NBC Sports — Cardinals inform Murray of release: https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/reports-cardinals-inform-kyler-murray-of-his-release

[7] Heisman.com — Kyler Murray 2018 Heisman bio: https://www.heisman.com/heisman-winners/kyler-murray/

[8] Yahoo Sports / NFL live updates: https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/live/nfl-news-live-updates-kyler-murray-to-be-released-by-cardinals-colts-place-transition-tag-on-daniel-jones-173809838.html