Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray isn't exactly the chief rival player for San Francisco 49ers fans.
But, considering the Niners have had to face him and his team twice a year since 2019, the former No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick has to be viewed as an enemy of the red and gold.
It might not stay that way for much longer, though, especially according to one bold prediction from Sports Illustrated's Connor Orr.
Orr tossed out 100 bold predictions for the upcoming season, including some that should be music to San Francisco fans' ears. Yet among the predictions toward the top of the top-100 list suggested Murray is entering his final season with the red birds.
Here's what the SI analyst had to say about the possibility:
"Murray’s dead cap number almost halves after this season. The former No. 1 pick is not a bad quarterback, but the Cardinals will likely conclude that the club has maximized Murray in Arizona and that it’s best to recoup some kind of draft asset before pivoting. Murray had a six-game stretch at the tail end of last season in which he failed to top 100 in quarterback rating, and he has played just one fully healthy season since 2020. While a lot of this is not Murray’s fault and is often the reality of playing for a team bad enough to qualify for the No. 1 pick, Arizona will prepare for larger-scale changes after finishing in the NFC West basement."
Provocative. But sensible.
Why Kyler Murray prediction could actually come true
Acknowledging the dead-cap numbers which Orr referenced, there are plenty of other reasons why Arizona could ultimately decide to go in a different direction in 2026.
As stated, Murray is a "good" signal-caller but has failed to fully live up to the kind of expectations one would have for a No. 1 overall pick who's also a quarterback. Tack on injuries and some inconsistent play, and the cliche-type statement of "you know what you're getting" with Murray certainly applies here.
Above that, it's also important to know head coach Jonathan Gannon inherited Murray when he took over the Cardinals in 2023. Sure, the defensive-minded coach spent plenty of effort during the offseason revamping Arizona on that side of the ball.
But, it wouldn't be shocking to see Gannon pivot to the offense a bit more when 2026 rolls around.
If that's the case, Murray could be part of some serious changes out in the desert a little less than a year from now.
And it's likely 49ers fans wouldn't mind one bit, especially if it creates even more question marks for an NFC West rival.