Arizona Cardinals trade rumors: Three key stars could leave by deadline

The Arizona Cardinals are in trade-rumor crosshairs with the deadline looming, and three of their top performers are already on the move list.

Which Arizona Cardinals stars are trade candidates?

Arizona’s front office is fielding calls on Kyler Murray, the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year, plus Marvin Harrison Jr., the rookie wideout who already looks like a future Pro Bowler. J.J. Watt, the veteran defensive end, is also drawing interest after anchoring a unit that struggled to stop the run all season.

Why are these players on the block?

The Cardinals sit 16th in the National Football Conference with a 3-14 record and have lost nine straight games heading into their bye week. General manager Monti Ossenfort has already reshaped the roster once this offseason, shipping out Jalen Ramsey and Zach Allen to free up cap space and draft capital. Now the focus shifts to the remaining stars who could fetch high-value picks or young talent.

What happens if Arizona trades Murray or Harrison Jr.?

Murray turns 28 in August and still has four years left on his deal, but his 2025 season ended early with a knee injury and the Cardinals have won just three games since. Harrison Jr. is only 22 but already ranks second on the team in receiving yards and has flashed All-Pro upside. Losing either would force the Cardinals to rebuild behind a new franchise quarterback or lean heavily on rookie Trey Benson, who missed the final five games of his debut season with a hamstring issue.

When is the deadline and what’s next for the Cardinals?

The NFL trade deadline arrives on October 28, 2026, giving Arizona less than four months to decide whether to move Murray, Harrison Jr. or Watt. Their next game is a Week 1 tilt against the Los Angeles Chargers on September 13, 2026, a prime chance to show progress—or dig the hole deeper before the deadline talks heat up.