Commanders-Cardinals trade pitch sends $68 million star to Arizona to revive Kyler Murray's career

The Arizona Cardinals are determined to prove they can compete in the NFC West, and that intent was made clear when they went all-in with their first two NFL Draft picks: Will Johnson and Walter Nolen. Johnson, in particular, has the potential to be the steal of the draft—if he can stay healthy in his rookie season.

“The knee was flagged at combine testing, the results of which teams typically get in mid-to-late April. In the hours before Day 2, some teams considering Johnson still had questions. Arizona was fine with the issues, and as a result, Johnson had the team circled as a strong possibility entering the start of the second round,” Cardinals Wire’s Jess Root wrote.

The downside for Johnson is Arizona’s grueling travel schedule, which could take a toll on his body. According to Bill Speros, the Cardinals are slated to travel 20,336 miles this season—ranking among the top 15 most-traveled teams in the NFL.

As for the veterans, this could be a make-or-break year for quarterback Kyler Murray. He’s looking to bounce back and regain his pre-injury form, but if he falls short, this could very well be his final season in a Cardinals uniform.

“Murray now has the best supporting cast of his career,” FanSided’s Romell Williams wrote. “If Murray doesn’t show progress this year, Arizona may be in the quarterback market again in 2026.”

With that in mind, the Cardinals could look to make a splash by trading for Washington Commanders star wide receiver Terry McLaurin—potentially giving Murray the support he needs for a rebound season.

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“Adding McLaurin could help Murray return to his pre-injury production and, potentially, help Arizona get over .500. To sweeten the pot, the Cardinals could include edge-defender Zaven Collins, who had five sacks last season but could be a potential 2026 cap casualty,” Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox wrote.

This hypothetical trade could work well for both sides. And for Murray, bringing in a proven weapon like McLaurin might be the boost he needs—and a blessing in disguise.