NFL Roundup: Cardinals officially release QB Kyler Murray

Kyler Murray is officially on the market.

The Arizona Cardinals released Murray on Wednesday, making him a free agent for the first time after seven seasons with the franchise.

Murray was reportedly a priority target of the Minnesota Vikings. He's not the only veteran quarterback who was released on the first day of the league year.

Kirk Cousins was let go by the Falcons, ending his two-year stint in Atlanta at the halfway mark of a four-year, $180 million deal he signed in free agency after leaving Minnesota in March 2024.

By releasing Murray before March 15, the Cardinals kept their 2026 total cost at $36.8 million. A $19.5 million guarantee would have kicked in Saturday. The Cardinals designated Murray as a post-June 1 release, an accounting maneuver 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 the full regular-season schedule just once in the past five years.

The No. 1 pick in the 2019 draft and 2018 Heisman Trophy winner played for two coaches in Arizona, and a third, Mike LaFleur, was hired to replace Jonathan Gannon.

Indianapolis removed the transition tag from Daniel Jones when the quarterback opted for a two-year, $88 million contract.

Jones was in the midst of a career revival when he suffered a leg injury last season. While trying to play through the pain, Jones sustained a season-ending Achilles injury in December.

Jones threw for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions with a completion percentage of 68.0 in 13 games in 2025.

Murray has 121 TD passes and 60 interceptions in 87 career regular-season games. If he chooses the Twin Cities as his next home, Murray could be paired with running back Aaron Jones, who returned to Minnesota on a restructured one-year deal.

Cousins is reportedly one of the veterans the Cardinals might 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 deal with the Falcons. With Cousins out of the picture and Michael Penix Jr. returning from ACL reconstruction, Tagovailoa offers new head coach Kevin Stefanski experience as a starting option if Penix isn't ready for the start of the season.

The Jets moved to acquire Geno Smith from the Raiders before Las Vegas could release the 35-year-old. To make the financial agreement work for all parties, NFL Network reported Smith received a $1 million bump on his $18.5 million salary, of which Las Vegas will pay more than $13 million in 2006.

--Baltimore found a pass rusher one day after pulling the plug on the Maxx Crosby acquisition due to a failed physical.

The Ravens are adding Trey Hendrickson on a deal reportedly worth $112 million over four years. Hendrickson, 31, played seven games last season before core muscle surgery pushed him to injured reserve.

Hendrickson had only 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 with 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 Doubs (Packers) to a four-year deal and guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (Jets) to a three-year contract.

--Outside linebacker Bradley Chubb signed a three-year, $43.5 million deal 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 a new addition in Buffalo. Those deals were made possible with the help of quarterback Josh Allen. Allen restructured his contract to free up more than $12 million in salary cap space, according to multiple reports.

Chubb was officially released by the Dolphins on Wednesday with a post-June 1 designation and quickly hooked on with the AFC East rival in Buffalo.

Chubb's cap hit for 2026 was $31.2 million and the Dolphins have worked to get under the salary cap by Wednesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline by making multiple cuts.

Chubb led the Dolphins with 8.5 sacks in 2025. Joey Bosa is a free agent in Buffalo and not expected to return.

--Tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo signed with the Washington Commanders, who had a busy day addressing needs.

Okonkwo had career-best numbers with the Titans in 2025, hauling in 56 receptions for 560 yards. He has eight touchdowns in 68 games since being drafted by Tennessee in the fourth round of the 2022 draft.

--Other deals reported by teams as official transactions on Wednesday:

--CB Trent McDuffie traded to the Los Angeles Rams by the Kansas City Chiefs for a 2026 first-round (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.

--Chiefs TE Travis Kelce re-signed; one-year deal worth a reported $12 million.

--S Minkah Fitzpatrick acquired by the Jets from the Miami Dolphins.

--RT Tytus Howard acquired by the Cleveland Browns from the Houston Texans for a 2026 fifth-round pick.

--Steelers DE Cameron Heyward re-signed; one-year deal worth a reported $18 million.

--C Elgton Jenkins signed a two-year deal worth a reported $24 million with the Cleveland Browns.