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By Matthew Davis
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Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa are two of the biggest names among quarterbacks in NFL free agency, but their results will come with mixed bags.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that both Murray and Tagovailoa have a certain freedom in where to go, though the big contracts won’t be there this year. Both Murray and Tagovailoa are set to be released by the Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins, respectively.
“Important point on Tua Tagovailoa and Kyler Murray—because of the offsets in their contracts, they're almost certain to play on the league minimum in 2026, which allows both to make pure football decisions on where to go next,” Breer wrote via X on Monday.
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Murray didn’t pan out in Arizona after the team made him the No. 1 pick in 2019 and won Offensive Rookie of the Year that season. His numbers and health turned inconsistent in recent years, and the Cardinals ultimately benched him last season in favor of backup Jacoby Brissett.
Tagovailoa, a former No. 15 pick in 2020, showed promise for a couple of seasons, but injuries, particularly concussions, and his decline in play led to the Dolphins moving on. He led the Dolphins to the playoffs once but won eight or fewer games the rest of his years with the team.
The league minimum is $1.21 million for players in the league for 4-6 seasons and $1.3 million for veterans of seven or more seasons. Both Murray and Tagovailoa will get chances to turn around their careers, however, and land big contracts for 2027 if each quarterback plays well.
That has been a trend in recent years for other former first-round draft picks who struggled early — particularly Baker Mayfield of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Sam Darnold of the Seattle Seahawks. Both landed contracts north of $100 million after proving it with their current teams.
Murray and Tagovailoa will look to follow in Darnold’s and Mayfield’s footsteps for 2026.
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