ESPN's Nick Wright proposes unfathomable Kyler Murray trade to desperate AFC North team
The Arizona Cardinals took the first step of their rebuild in 2024 as they made a late push to win the NFC West before falling short at the end of the year. Second-year head coach Jonathan Gannon led his team to an 8-9 finish despite having a roster that is still well behind its peers […]
The Arizona Cardinals took the first step of their rebuild in 2024 as they made a late push to win the NFC West before falling short at the end of the year. Second-year head coach Jonathan Gannon led his team to an 8-9 finish despite having a roster that is still well behind its peers in terms of raw talent and depth.
ESPN's Nick Wright was asked at Super Bowl 59 about the status of quarterback Kyler Murray and whether he thinks the sixth-year passer should be made available in a trade. Wright articulated that, yes, trading Murray makes sense, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are the perfect match.
When asked if he's a believer in Murray, Wright said, "Not really. If someone brought me in to run the Cardinals, I would call Pittsburgh and be like, "Hey, you want to give me a couple of first-round picks?" And we can reboot it. I think Kyler's in a spot where he's paid like a star but not quite a star. Pittsburgh probably would do it because they need someone who's not just a bridge quarterback, and then [Arizona] can reboot it."
He then added that this likely won't happen and that bringing it back makes sense to see if he can finally put together a strong end to the season.
Murray, who completed 68.8% of his passes for 3,851 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 11 touchdowns in 2024, turns 28 this summer. He has almost a 2-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio over the course of his career and is generally an efficient player who is good but not an elite star who really moves the needle in wins.
He is a fun dual-threat, averaging 500 yards and six scores on the ground each year. Pittsburgh has dealt with much worse quarterback play over the years, and Murray would benefit from Mike Tomlin's more structured and defense-heavy infrastructure.
The cap implications and trade haul would be a major part of the conversation. Murray has four years and $29.9 million guaranteed left on his deal, but he has three seasons without guaranteed money coming up. He could easily be restructured to soothe upcoming cap hits between $43 and $53 million.
The Steelers have the money to make a deal happen quite easily. They also have the picks and can stomach to lose two mid-to-late first-round picks. Granted, though, Pittsburgh would surely insist on giving up less. A deal with the 21st overall pick and a 2026 mid-rounder seems more reasonable.
Arizona could then go after someone like Jaxson Dart or Jalen Milroe in this class or sign Sam Darnold in free agency. It's likely too Madden to happen in real life, but I actually agree with Wright's proposal.
Ultimately, Murray has been a good but not a great quarterback. He struggles to stay healthy deep into the season and is likely being asked to do too much in Arizona. Pittsburgh is one of the few teams that can offer him a better situation and has the equity to make a bold trade.
Arizona could also stand to reset the position and get off his contract.
It's a fascinating thought, and even if you disagree, Wright's process is reflective of how NFL front offices have to weigh such decisions.
