Kyler Cap Hit??

[az jam]

I'm confused and see different numbers floated around but what is the cap hit for the Cards if we either trade Kyler or release him this coming off season??
Thanks for your help!!

 

[kerouac9]

I'm confused and see different numbers floated around but what is the cap hit for the Cards if we either trade Kyler or release him this coming off season??
Thanks for your help!!

It depends on the situation, if and when he’s traded or released.

 

[az jam]

It depends on the situation, if and when he’s traded or released.

Could someone on our Board cover the different situations with actual numbers. That is what I would love to see.

 

[kerouac9]

Scenario 1: Current state
2026
Base Salary: $22.8MM (guaranteed)
Roster Bonus: $17MM (guaranteed)
Other bonuses: $2.5MM
Proration: $10.7MM
Cap hit: $52.2MM

2027
Base salary: $19.5 MM (guaranteed 3/22/26)
Roster Bonus: $14.1MM
Other bonuses: $2.5MM
Proration: $10.7MM
Cap hit: $43.5MM

Scenario 2: Traded before March 22
2026 Dead cap (proration of bonuses): $17.5MM

Scenario 3: Traded after March 22
2026 Dead cap (proration of bonus and 2026 roster bonus): $34.5 MM

Scenario 4: Released before March 22
2026 Dead cap (proration of bonus, 2026 salary and 2026 roster bonus): $57 MM

Scenarios 3 and 4 include money Michael pays Kyler to not play football for the Cards.

 

[az jam]

Thank you K9, exactly what we all needed!!1

 

[QuebecCard]

SPOTRAC

A 2026 Release
If the Cardinals look to outright release Murray next March, they'll be dealing with $57.7 million of dead cap ($39 million of which stems from a salary guarantee). By designating him a Post June 1st Release, the dead cap would split slightly ($50.5M in 2026, $7.2M in 2027).

A 2026 Trade
If a trade partner were to emerge, the financial burden would decrease significantly for Arizona, as the dead cap would drop to $17.9 million. However, this would require a team taking on the following contract:

2026: $42.535M ($39.8M guaranteed)
2027: $36.335M ($19.5M guaranteed)
2028: $46.35M (non-guaranteed)

P.S. Kyler, at the end of this season, will have garnered $170 million in salary.

 

[az jam]

Hey these responses by K-9 and QCard are good stuff and why I enjoy this Board.

 

[football karma]

Pet peeve of mine on nearly all media reporting on Kylers future:

nearly all say something like -- if they cut him, the Cards will have a dead cap hit of $54.7mm!!!

so yes, its a big number but they never point out that he already will have a 2026 cap hit of $53.3mm.

In other words, cutting him will only "use" $1.4mm of cap space vs keeping him.

Importantly -- cutting him frees up $43mm and $46mm of cap space in 2027 and 2028.

Trading rather than cutting him only improves the cap situation noted above.

Bottom line: the potential dead money is not any impediment to moving on from Murray, will not limit the Cards at all in the 2026 offseason, and , will provide significant cap space for 2027 and 2028.

 

[Goodyear Card]

Report: Cardinals, Kyler Murray to talk future in Arizona

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Saturday that the Cardinals and Kyler Murray are expected to have discussions regarding the quarterback's future in Arizona.

arizonasports.com

 

[kerouac9]

Bottom line: the potential dead money is not any impediment to moving on from Murray, will not limit the Cards at all in the 2026 offseason, and , will provide significant cap space for 2027 and 2028

Maybe you have me on ignore, but this is wrong. Because with Kyler on the roster that hold represents a quarterback.

With Kyler cut, the Bidwill family is paying $50 million for him not to play football and invest additional resources in some plan for the future at quarterback.

Their outlook for 2026 without a trade for Kyler, in the fourth year of a rebuild, is awful.

 

[Goodyear Card]

Maybe you have me on ignore, but this is wrong. Because with Kyler on the roster that hold represents a quarterback.

With Kyler cut, the Bidwill family is paying $50 million for him not to play football and invest additional resources in some plan for the future at quarterback.

Their outlook for 2026 without a trade for Kyler, in the fourth year of a rebuild, is awful.

The 2026 money is spent whether he plays or is released. The savings is in 2027 and 2028. If Kyler is on the roster on March 22.2026, his 19.5M base salary in 2027 is guaranteed. The Cardinals should have an idea of his trade value. My guess it is zero. https://overthecap.com/player/kyler-murray/7792

 

[kerouac9]

The 2026 money is spent whether he plays or is released. The savings is in 2027 and 2028. If Kyler is on the roster on March 22.2026, his 19.5M base salary in 2027 is guaranteed. The Cardinals should have an idea of his trade value. My guess it is zero. https://overthecap.com/player/kyler-murray/7792

If he’s traded the Cards don’t have to pay that money out. It’s only guaranteed by the team he’s contracted with when the money is due.

The 2027 space is meaningless in March 2026. Cmon.

 

[Goodyear Card]

If he’s traded the Cards don’t have to pay that money out. It’s only guaranteed by the team he’s contracted with when the money is due.

The 2027 space is meaningless in March 2026. Cmon.

I don't believe he has any trade value. I am assuming the cardinals tried to trade him and did not get any offers. He is not a $40m Qb.

 

[kerouac9]

I don't believe he has any trade value. I am assuming the cardinals tried to trade him and did not get any offers. He is not a $40m Qb.

Obviously you need to plan to accommodate a $35 million cap hit. I think a team will trade for him to just make sure they have him.

I agree that the Cards aren’t going to get a deal they feel good about, but i Think they’ll find someone to take on the 2026 and 2027 salaries.

I wonder if Michael would rather send a fourth or something back the other way to avoid having to pay the roster bonus.

 

[PDXChris]

I don't believe he has any trade value. I am assuming the cardinals tried to trade him and did not get any offers. He is not a $40m Qb.

When your look at this list, QBs aren't paid purely based on performance. Is Dak worth $60 million , Trevor $55 million? The $40 million a new team will owe will put him between Geno and Stafford for 16th, on average. Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones might both get extension that push him to 18th. The salary cap is expected to be $295.5 million. Kyler will be 13.5% of a new teams cap space. Someone will take a 2 year flyer and I'm guessing Pittsburgh for some season. No reason, just in my gut.

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[kerouac9]

Someone will take a 2 year flyer and I'm guessing Pittsburgh for some season. No reason, just in my gut.

You’d think that Gannon and Ossenfort would want to keep the lid one some of these stories leaking out to at least keep the fires burning.

 

[az jam]

You’d think that Gannon and Ossenfort would want to keep the lid one some of these stories leaking out to at least keep the fires burning.

They usually are very good at this but Murray's agent has been very outspoken in the past.

 

[football karma]

Maybe you have me on ignore, but this is wrong. Because with Kyler on the roster that hold represents a quarterback

A trade would clearly be preferable and didnt say otherwise.

Worst case if they have to cut him on 3/22 - they will still have sufficient cap room to go execute a productive offseason.

I disagree that '27 and '28 cap space doesnt matter. It is very easy to sign players in '26 and time their cap hits to minimize '26 and push $ into '27 and '28.

 

[kerouac9]

A trade would clearly be preferable and didnt say otherwise.

Worst case if they have to cut him on 3/22 - they will still have sufficient cap room to go execute a productive offseason.

I disagree that '27 and '28 cap space doesnt matter. It is very easy to sign players in '26 and time their cap hits to minimize '26 and push $ into '27 and '28.

We don’t have much ‘26 cap space as it stands, but we can create a fair amount by creating some additional roster holes.

Cap space three years out is immaterial. You’d obviously rather have a franchise QB; now we will be in years five and six of a rebuild.

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

We don’t have much ‘26 cap space as it stands, but we can create a fair amount by creating some additional roster holes.

Cap space three years out is immaterial. You’d obviously rather have a franchise QB; now we will be in years five and six of a rebuild.

Smells like an excuse for job security

 

[kerouac9]

Smells like an excuse for job security

Pretty much the only thing coaches and GMs care about. Can’t blame them.

 

[football karma]

We don’t have much ‘26 cap space as it stands, but we can create a fair amount by creating some additional roster holes.

Cap space three years out is immaterial. You’d obviously rather have a franchise QB; now we will be in years five and six of a rebuild.

yes, I agree with this

the point I am really making is that this isnt the Russell Wilson situation that the media has compared this to. Cutting Wilson left the Broncos with far less cap space than had they kept him. Thats a tough dead money hit.

the Cards '26 cap space is basically the same if they keep him or cut him. Trading him is still the best option.

 

[kerouac9]

yes, I agree with this

the point I am really making is that this isnt the Russell Wilson situation that the media has compared this to. Cutting Wilson left the Broncos with far less cap space than had they kept him. Thats a tough dead money hit.

the Cards '26 cap space is basically the same if they keep him or cut him. Trading him is still the best option.

It would be unprecedented for the Cards to pay out this much money to a player not on the roster. That’s why I’m skeptical.

 

[WisconsinCard]

They usually are very good at this but Murray's agent has been very outspoken in the past.

Maybe the cards should scrub their social's of all things Murray.