NFC West Notes: Cardinals, Rams, Gray

Kyler Murray did well to secure a rolling guarantee structure on his five-year, $230.5MM Cardinals extension. The deal provides advanced salary guarantees, and by the quarterback remaining on Arizona’s roster on Day 5 of the 2025 league year, his $22.84MM 2026 base salary locked in. A $13.97MM 2026 option bonus also triggered last year. If Murray remains on Arizona’s roster by Day 5 of the 2026 league year, his $19.5MM 2027 base salary guarantees. That will make trading Murray difficult, as an acquiring team would inherit the 2027 salary guarantee. While Murray is a two-time original-ballot Pro Bowler, he has trended downward in recent years. He coming off a foot injury that limited him to five 2025 games.

Although the Cardinals would like to trade the former No. 1 overall pick, SI.com’s Albert Breer indicated during a recent appearance on Fox Sports’ The Herd a release is the more likely outcome here. GM Monti Ossenfort did not design the Murray contract; predecessor Steve Keim did. The Cardinals could spread the $54.72MM dead money figure over two years by designating the QB as a post-June 1 cut. If the Cardinals cannot find a trade partner, that is the expected scenario. Breer mentions the Jets and Vikings as possible destinations. Minnesota came up as a potential suitor late last year.

A Russell Wilson-like scenario in which Murray plays for the veteran minimum following a release will be in play, and he would be a natural stopgap option as a free agent — while the acquiring team would hold exclusive negotiating rights with the 28-year-old passer until March 2027. Here is the latest from the NFC West:

• With the Raiders and Seahawks hiring offensive coordinators, the Rams are the only team left without one. The Cardinals hiring Mike LaFleur as HC seemingly opens the door to the Rams promoting pass-game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, but Breer mentions QBs coach Dave Ragone as an option not to be dismissed. Ragone, 46, served as a three-year non-play-calling Falcons OC from 2021-23 and has spent the past two seasons on Sean McVay‘s staff, overseeing Matthew Stafford‘s first two original-ballot Pro Bowl seasons. McVay pointed to an internal hire recently, and it appears he joins Scheelhaase as internal candidates.
• Former DC Jerry Gray is joining the 49ers as defensive backs coach, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz tweets. Formerly the Titans’ DC (2011-13), Gray has settled back on the position coaching tier over the past decade. He spent the past three years in Atlanta working under Arthur Smith and Raheem Morris. With the latter becoming the 49ers’ DC, Gray had a natural path to San Francisco. The former NFL cornerback spent the previous three seasons in Green Bay and the six before that on Mike Zimmer‘s Vikings staff as DBs coach. Gray has been an NFL assistant since 1997.
• The Rams are hiring Robert Wright as a defensive assistant, according to ESPN.com’s Pete Thamel. Wright is a former DC at Syracuse and Buffalo, serving in that role with the Orange over the past two seasons.
• More notably on the coaching front, the Cardinals have their new wide receivers and cornerbacks coaches lined up. Four-year Vikings assistant wideouts coach Tony Sorrentino will be the new Arizona WRs coach, ESPN’s Peter Schrager tweets. Sorrentino joins Brian Angelichio — the new Steelers OC — in defecting from Kevin O’Connell‘s offensive staff for a promotion elsewhere. The Vikings gig was Sorrentino’s first NFL job. Zac Etheridge is leaving his role as the Miami Hurricanes’ defensive pass-game coordinator to become the Cardinals’ CBs coach, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz adds. Etheridge spent one season at Miami, coaching DBs at Houston (2024) and Auburn (2021-23) before that.
• The Cardinals, however, will lose a member of their scouting staff to the college ranks. Stephen Wise is leaving Arizona to join Georgia Tech’s front office, Zenitz notes. Wise had been with the Cardinals since 2021, working as a low-level scouting staffer.