Life after Kyler Murray: Five 2026 QB options for Arizona Cardinals

Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals appear headed toward a divorce.

On Saturday, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter wrote about the seven-year veteran's uncertain future with the organization, with a league source telling Schefter "a separation is imminent."

With Murray unlikely in the Cardinals' plans beyond 2025, the team is close to entering dreaded quarterback purgatory. Here are five potential starting options for 2026.

Run it back with Jacoby Brissett

Brissett has outplayed Murray this season, and if he continues to impress, the veteran could be the safest option next season. He's also under contract, set to earn a $4.88 million base salary as part of a two-year contract he signed this past March. In three 2025 starts, Brissett is 73-of-111 (65.8 percent) for 860 yards, six touchdowns and an interception, and Arizona is averaging 25.7 points per game.

Follow the Seattle Seahawks blueprint

The Cardinals might want to consider following the path the division rival Seahawks took. Last offseason, Seattle cashed out on the Geno Smith experience before he turned back into a pumpkin, trading him to the Las Vegas Raiders and signing 2024 breakout star Sam Darnold in free agency. The decision paid off, with Seattle entering Week 10 at 6-2, tied for the NFC's best record.

Arizona could likewise trade Murray to a QB-needy team (the Raiders, perhaps?) and look to the pending free-agent class, led by Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones, for its next starter.

Back to the drawing board

The 2026 rookie quarterback class doesn't seem as strong as initially expected at the start of the college football season. However, after missing out on Murray's $230.5M contract, turning to a much cheaper first-year player could be appealing. This move would help the Cardinals address other needs in free agency, especially along both lines of scrimmage. Arizona ranks in the bottom half of the league in both sacks and pressure rate. Meanwhile, Cardinals quarterbacks have been sacked at the league's seventh-highest rate (h/t Pro Football Reference).

Try hand at a reclamation project

Enough quarterbacks have taken leaps after changes of scenery in recent seasons that we can expect another next season, joining Geno Smith (2022), Baker Mayfield (2023), Sam Darnold (2024) and Daniel Jones (2025). Colts backup Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, could benefit from a move and might be available this offseason. 49ers quarterback Mac Jones has already taken strides in relief of Brock Purdy and might be able to take another leap. The options are there. The trick is selecting the right one.

One last rodeo for Aaron Rodgers?

The 21-year veteran has previously stated that the 2025 season will be his final one, but The Athletic's Mike DeFabo recently presented an argument for why Rodgers might reconsider. He's turned back the clock on the field, overcoming the bitter taste of his disappointing stint with the New York Jets and demonstrating that he's still a viable starting option. If Rodgers changes his mind about retiring, the Steelers would likely have a good chance to keep him, though a move to the West could be attractive to the California native.

Additionally, he'd provide Arizona with a win-now starter, which could be crucial as long as the team doesn't change its head coach. Jonathan Gannon is 15-27 over three seasons and has yet to reach the playoffs. Unless there's a strong second half, it's unlikely that will change in 2025, potentially making next season a must-win for the desert team.