While it’s really bad for NFL teams to not have a set starting quarterback, nothing will set a team back more than paying the wrong quarterback a huge contract. The Arizona Cardinals are learning that the hard way.
The team made Kyler Murray the No. 1 pick in 2019 and then handed him a five-year, $230.5 million contract extension before he started his fourth season. The Cardinals almost certainly regret that deal in hindsight. While Murray has been fine, he has not lived up to his draft status or his contract.
Arizona essentially just benched him for Jacoby Brissett and placed him on Injured Reserve. There’s now a lot of trade speculation regarding Murray, and Moe Moton of Bleacher Report listed the Las Vegas Raiders as a possible fit for the quarterback.
“General manager Monti Ossenfort will need to make a crucial decision on Murray’s future in the offseason, and it could result in a blockbuster quarterback trade. Remember, the Cardinals’ current regime inherited Murray from the previous administration,” Moton wrote. “If the Cardinals trade Murray, the two-time Pro Bowler should fetch multiple first-rounders because of his accolades at the most valuable position in the sport.
“Teams like the New Orleans Saints, New York Jets and Cleveland Browns may opt to draft a quarterback. These clubs have multiple 2026 first-rounders or will likely hold top picks in the upcoming draft.”
Will Raiders Move on From Smith?
The Raiders also spent too much money on the wrong quarterback when they gave Geno Smith a two-year, $75 million extension in the offseason. He’s rewarded the team with a 2-6 record and an NFL-leading 11 interceptions.
The only thing that might save Smith’s Raiders future is his relationship with head coach Pete Carroll, but he still has to show signs of improvement. Luckily for Las Vegas, Smith only has an $18.5 million dead cap hit if he’s cut after the season. The Raiders have to be hoping he picks things up.
Smith isn’t making too much money and has proven to be a solid quarterback in the past. Plus, he’s under contract for two more years, which gives the Raiders some flexibility with how they find their quarterback of the future.
Should Raiders Consider Murray?
Murray doesn’t make a lot of sense with the Raiders unless the Cardinals cut him outright and he becomes a free agent. He has a salary cap hit of $53 million next season, which is far too much to pay for a quarterback who isn’t playing that well.
That said, we’ve seen a number of former first-round pick quarterbacks leave the team that drafted them only to find success elsewhere. Murray is still brimming with talent, but the Cardinals clearly don’t believe in him.
Perhaps a change of scenery would be what he needs to find success. Carroll does have experience working with quarterbacks like Murray. If Smith doesn’t work out and Murray is available, it wouldn’t be the worst idea to add him as a one or two-year rental, but the Raiders can’t give up trade assets to absorb that contract. If anything, the Cardinals might have to give them draft capital to convince them to take on the contract.
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