Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals seem headed towards a divorce.
On Saturday, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter wrote about the seven-year veteran’s uncertain future with the organization, with a league supply telling Schefter “a separation is imminent.”
With Murray unlikely within the Cardinals’ plans past 2025, the workforce is near getting into dreaded quarterback purgatory. Listed below are 5 potential beginning choices for 2026.
Run it again with Jacoby Brissett
Brissett has outplayed Murray this season, and if he continues to impress, the veteran could possibly be the most secure possibility subsequent season. He is additionally below contract, set to earn a $4.88 million base wage as a part of a two-year contract he signed this previous March. In three 2025 begins, Brissett is 73-of-111 (65.8 p.c) for 860 yards, six touchdowns and an interception, and Arizona is averaging 25.7 factors per sport.
The Cardinals would possibly wish to think about following the trail the division rival Seahawks took. Final offseason, Seattle cashed out on the Geno Smith expertise earlier than he turned again right into a pumpkin, buying and selling him to the Las Vegas Raiders and signing 2024 breakout star Sam Darnold in free company. The choice paid off, with Seattle getting into Week 10 at 6-2, tied for the NFC’s greatest file.
Arizona might likewise commerce Murray to a QB-needy workforce (the Raiders, maybe?) and look to the pending free-agent class, led by Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones, for its subsequent starter.
Again to the drafting board
The 2026 rookie quarterback class does not appear as robust as initially anticipated in the beginning of the faculty soccer season. Nonetheless, after lacking out on Murray’s $230.5M contract, turning to a less expensive first-year participant could possibly be interesting. This transfer would assist the Cardinals handle different wants in free company, particularly alongside each traces of scrimmage. Arizona ranks within the backside half of the league in each sacks and strain fee. In the meantime, Cardinals quarterbacks have been sacked on the league’s seventh-highest fee (h/t Pro Football Reference).
Attempt hand at a reclamation venture
Sufficient quarterbacks have taken leaps after modifications of surroundings in latest seasons that we are able to count on one other subsequent season, becoming a member of Geno Smith (2022), Baker Mayfield (2023), Sam Darnold (2024) and Daniel Jones (2025). Colts backup Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 general choose of the 2023 NFL Draft, may gain advantage from a transfer and is likely to be out there this offseason. 49ers quarterback Mac Jones has already taken strides in aid of Brock Purdy and would possibly have the ability to take one other leap. The choices are there. The trick is deciding on the correct one.
One final rodeo for Aaron Rodgers?
The 21-year veteran has beforehand acknowledged that the 2025 season will probably be his ultimate one, however The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo recently presented an argument for why Rodgers would possibly rethink. He is turned again the clock on the sector, overcoming the bitter style of his disappointing stint with the New York Jets and demonstrating that he is nonetheless a viable beginning possibility. If Rodgers modifications his thoughts about retiring, the Steelers would doubtless have a superb probability to maintain him, although a transfer to the West could possibly be enticing to the California native.
Moreover, he’d present Arizona with a win-now starter, which could possibly be essential so long as the workforce does not change its head coach. Jonathan Gannon is 15-27 over three seasons and has but to achieve the playoffs. Except there is a robust second half, it is unlikely that can change in 2025, doubtlessly making subsequent season a must-win for the desert workforce.
