Kyler Murray Trade Rumors: Cardinals Could Deal QB In Offseason

The Arizona Cardinals will have an important roster decision to make in the offseason. While Kyler Murray will remain the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season, the Cardinals front office will have to decide whether or not the 28-year-old is the team’s franchise quarterback moving forward.

Comparing The Cardinals’ Offense Under Murray vs. Brissett

The former No. 1 overall pick has been outplayed by veteran backup Jacoby Brissett while injured, and the offense has looked better with Murray on the sideline. Arizona went 2-3 with Murray under center and scored 21 points or fewer in four of the team’s five games. Murray was sacked 16 times in five games and turned the ball over four times (three interceptions and one fumble) while posting a 44.4 QBR in those contests.

On the other hand, Brissett has been sharp in his three starts, nearly pulling off upsets against the Indianapolis Colts (7-2) and Green Bay Packers (5-2-1) before getting the job done on Monday Night Football with a 27-17 win over the Dallas Cowboys (3-5-1). Brissett threw for an impressive 860 yards with six touchdowns and only one interception in three starts while completing 65.2% of his passes. 

Arizona averaged 25.7 points per game in three games with Brissett under center (which would rank 12th in the NFL) compared to just 20.6 points per game with Murray as the starter (which would rank 25th in the NFL).  

Brissett Getting Cardinals Playmakers Involved

Most notably, he was able to get the Cardinals’ top playmakers more involved, including tight end Trey McBride and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

Nearly half of McBridge’s production this season has come with Brissett at quarterback. Over the past three games, the tight end has caught 23 passes for 201 yards and four of his five touchdowns. In fact, McBride has only caught five touchdowns from Murray over the past three seasons combined. 

Meanwhile, Harrison is coming off arguably his best game of the season against the Cowboys. He finished with seven catches for 96 yards and a touchdown and played a key role in the win.

Most Likely Destinations If Kyler Murray Is Traded

Murray would likely have a handful of suitors if he were to be traded in the offseason, but would be best served by going to a team that has the potential to win now rather than a rebuilding franchise. 

Below, we’ll break down a few teams that could be looking to trade for a veteran quarterback during the offseason. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh’s quarterback situation could be one of the league’s biggest storylines heading into 2026. Aaron Rodgers is currently playing on a one-year deal and could very well retire at the end of the season. The Steelers don’t have a successor on the roster and likely won’t have a high enough pick to select a franchise QB in the 2026 NFL Draft. 

With a Super Bowl-caliber roster already in place and an offense that could benefit from Murray’s mobility and arm talent, Pittsburgh represents one of the few win-now destinations where he could thrive. 

The Steelers saw flashes of success with Justin Fields in 2024, and Murray would bring a similar dual-threat element—only with far more experience and upside if he stays healthy and engaged.

Las Vegas Raiders

The Geno Smith experiment in Las Vegas has been a complete disaster. Smith is tied for the league lead in interceptions (11) and ranks 29th in the NFL among qualified QBs in QBR (37.9). 

Quarterback is far from the only problem in Las Vegas though. Taking a chance on Murray would make sense for the Raiders, who could use their draft capital to improve at other positions. 

The Raiders recently sent No. 1 wide receiver Jakobi Meyers to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a fourth and sixth-round pick. 

However, Las Vegas will likely end up with a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, giving them the flexibility to jumpstart their rebuild by drafting a QB in the first round.  

Smith is under contract for $26.5 million next season, so there’s a chance that he could remain the starter for another year.

Carolina Panthers

Bryce Young hasn’t been the franchise quarterback that the Panthers envisioned when they made him the No. 1 pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. Young ranks near the bottom of the league in QBR (45.1) and interceptions (six), yet Carolina continues to win games under head coach Dave Canales. 

With a young core featuring Tetairoa McMillan, Rico Dowdle, and a rebuilt offensive line, Murray’s dual-threat ability could give the Panthers run game a boost and accelerate the team’s return to playoff contention. 

The front office might also prefer a more experienced quarterback, especially as it becomes more apparent that the Panthers are ready to compete for the NFC South crown.