November 3, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) leaves the field after defeating the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Image Kyler Murray is officially on the market.
The Arizona Cardinals released Murray on Wednesday, making him his first free agent after seven seasons with the franchise.
Murray was reportedly a top target for the Minnesota Vikings. He wasn’t the only veteran quarterback released on the league’s first day.
Kirk Cousins was released by the Falcons following a two-year stint in Atlanta at the halfway point of the four-year, $180 million contract he signed as a free agent after leaving Minnesota in March 2024.
By releasing Murray before March 15, the Cardinals kept their 2026 total cost at $36.8 million. The $19.5 million guarantee would have kicked in on Saturday. The Cardinals designated Murray as a post-June 1 release, an accounting strategy to spread the remainder of his deal over two years for cap purposes.
Murray, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, missed 12 games last season with a foot injury and has played a full regular season schedule only once in the past five years.
The 2019 No. 1 draft pick and 2018 Heisman Trophy winner played for two coaches in Arizona, with a third coach, Mike LaFleur, hired to replace Jonathan Gannon.
Indianapolis removed the transition tag from Daniel Jones when the quarterback opted into a two-year, $88 million contract.
Jones was in the midst of a leg injury last season that put a damper on his career. While trying to deal with the pain, Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in December.
Jones threw for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 13 games in 2025, with a completion percentage of 68.0.
Murray has 121 TD passes and 60 interceptions in 87 career regular season games. If Murray chooses the Twin Cities as his next home, he could be paired with running back Aaron Jones, who returned to Minnesota on a restructured one-year contract.
Cousins is reportedly one of the veterans the Cardinals could consider. He knows LaFleur from their time together in Washington, where Cousins began his career as a backup to Robert Griffin III.
In Atlanta, former Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa signed a one-year contract with the Falcons. With Cousins gone and Michael Penix Jr. returning from ACL reconstruction, Tagovailoa gives new head coach Kevin Stefanski experience as a starting option if Penix isn’t ready to start the season.
The Jets moved to acquire Geno Smith from the Raiders before Las Vegas released the 35-year-old. NFL Network reported that Smith was paid an additional $1 million of his $18.5 million salary so that all parties could reach a financial agreement, and Las Vegas would pay him more than $13 million in 2006.
–Baltimore has found its pass rusher a day after pulling the plug on acquiring Maxx Crosby due to a physical disability.
The Ravens have reportedly added Trey Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million contract. Hendrickson, 31, played in seven games last season but was placed on injured reserve after undergoing core muscle surgery.
Hendrickson had just 4.0 sacks last season after leading the NFL with 35 total sacks in 2023-24.
–Safety Kevin Byard III reunited with Mike Vrabel in New England, signing a one-year, $9 million deal with the Patriots.
Byard led the NFL with seven interceptions last season with the Bears. He previously played for Vrabel for the Titans, who drafted him in the third round of the 2016 draft. Vrabel coached Tennessee from 2018 to 2023.
The Patriots also signed wide receiver Romeo Dubs (Packers) to a four-year deal and guard Aaliyah Vera-Tucker (Jets) to a three-year deal.
–Outside linebacker Bradley Chubb has signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract with the Bills, according to multiple reports.
He joins wide receiver DJ Moore, who was officially acquired in a trade with the Chicago Bears for a second-round pick, as Buffalo’s new players. This trade was made possible with the help of quarterback Josh Allen. According to multiple reports, Allen restructured his contract to free up more than $12 million in salary cap space.
Chubb was officially released by the Dolphins on Wednesday for a post-June 1 designation and quickly became linked to Buffalo’s AFC East rival.
Chubb’s 2026 cap hit was $31.2 million, and the Dolphins worked to meet the salary cap by Wednesday’s 4 PM ET deadline through multiple cuts.
Chubb led the Dolphins with 8.5 sacks in 2025. Joey Bosa is a free agent in Buffalo and is not expected to return.
–Tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo signed with the Washington Commanders after a busy day working out their needs.
Okonkwo tied a career high with 56 receptions for 560 yards for the Titans in 2025. He has eight touchdowns in 68 games since being selected out of Tennessee in the fourth round of the 2022 draft.
–Other transactions reported by the team as official on Wednesday:
–CB Trent McDuffie was traded from the Kansas City Chiefs to the Los Angeles Rams for a 2026 first-round pick (29th overall), a 2026 fifth-round pick, a 2026 sixth-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick.
–LBs Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean signed three-year contracts with the Raiders.
–TE President Travis Kelce re-signed. A one-year contract worth a reported $12 million.
–S Minkah Fitzpatrick was acquired by the Jets from the Miami Dolphins.
–RT Tytus Howard was acquired from the Houston Texans to the Cleveland Browns for a 2026 fifth-round pick.
–Steelers DE Cameron Heyward re-signed. It’s a one-year deal worth a reported $18 million.
–C Elgton Jenkins signed a two-year, $24 million contract with the Cleveland Browns.
–Field level media
