Cardinals' Post-Murray Era Begins at No. 3 Pick
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- Arizona Cardinals hold the No. 3 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft (April 23 in Pittsburgh), their highest selection since taking Kyler Murray first overall in 2019
- Kyler Murray was released last month and signed with the Vikings, creating a ~$47.5 million dead cap hit for Arizona in 2026
- Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew are the Cardinals' top two quarterbacks, neither signed past 2026, with the team carrying the lowest season win total O/U on the board at 4.5
- David Bailey is DraftKings' favorite to go No. 3 at +230, ahead of Francis Mauigoa (+270) and Arvell Reese (+380); Bailey posted 38 QB hits in 2025, the most by any FBS player since 2016
- Ty Simpson is +125 on DraftKings' prop for which team drafts him, ahead of the Jets at +145, though the Alabama QB is rated just No. 33 on the CBS Sports Big Board
- CBS Sports expert R.J. White said he wouldn't rule out Arizona taking Simpson at No. 3, calling the Cardinals' QB situation severe enough to justify reaching, while most mocks have Bailey going third
Why it matters: The $47.5M Murray dead cap means Arizona's No. 3 pick carries the weight of a full reset. With Brissett and Minshew unsigned beyond 2026 and a 4.5-win O/U, the Cardinals' options narrow to reaching for a QB at three, trading down for value, or waiting on the 2027 class.
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