The Arizona Cardinals are set to release Kyler Murray, but is he the right option for the Miami Dolphins?
The Miami Dolphins have been connected to Malik Willis plenty ahead of free agency, but his potential contract demands might price the team out of landing him.
A major reason for the Willis idea not to pan out has to do with the minimal amount of money the Dolphins will have to spend in free agency. That said, an option could be Kyler Murray, as the Arizona Cardinals are set to release him, but is he the right option?
Miami needs to bring in a veteran, whether that be Murray, Jimmy Garoppolo, or some other proven passer. The issue then becomes who they can afford.
The good news for the Dolphins, potentially landing Murray, is that he could come at a very low price.
Murray is owed a guaranteed $36.8 million by the Cardinals. With his release, he is likely to be paid the league minimum, which is just over $1 million.
That number also offsets, and Arizona will pay the difference. Even though the league minimum is around $1.3 million, that is money off the books for the Cardinals.
Simply put, the Dolphins could land Murray for that league minimum, which is a figure they could certainly get away with paying.
The conversation then becomes, will they go for another quarterback with a similar build to Tua Tagovailoa, who also has an injury history?
Through seven seasons, Murray has 20,460 yards, 121 touchdowns, 60 interceptions, a 67.1 completion percentage, two Pro Bowl nods, and an Offensive Rookie of the Year nod.
Murray missed half the 2023 season due to a torn ACL he suffered in December 2022, and he played in five games in 2025 due to a foot injury.
Murray does not have the same accolades as Tagovailoa, regarding leading the league in passing yards, completion percentage, and passer rating. But he has also been a proven starter.
If the Dolphins are looking for a bridge quarterback and a veteran that can help guide Quinn Ewers or potentially whatever rookie the team drafts in 2026, Murray could be that option.
Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan will need to go bargain shopping when free agency opens, and paying Murray the league minimum for a proven starter would not be the worst decision in the world. Despite the Cardinals' quarterback set to be released, Miami could do a lot worse.
Then again, if the Dolphins were considering bringing in Murray, they may as well keep Tagovailoa on the roster to infuse competition into the quarterback room, while also lessening his cap hit for 2027.