It is a weird time to be a Cardinals fan. If you walked into a sports bar in Glendale right now and asked who the quarterback for Arizona Cardinals is, you’d probably get a frustrated sigh before an actual name. Technically, it is still Kyler Murray. But Kyler hasn’t taken a snap since early October 2025, and the vibe around State Farm Stadium feels like a slow-motion breakup.
Jacoby Brissett has been the guy under center for the better part of this season. He’s been steady. Honestly, he’s been more than steady—he’s looked like the "adult in the room" that this offense desperately needed. But Brissett is a bridge, not a destination. With the 2026 offseason looming and the Cardinals holding the No. 3 overall pick in the upcoming draft, the franchise is at a crossroads that will define the next decade of Arizona football.
The Messy Reality of Kyler Murray’s Future
Everyone thought 2025 was going to be the "up and up" year. Kyler said it himself back in March. He was healthy, he had Marvin Harrison Jr. on the outside, and the vibes were actually decent. Then the season started.
Murray struggled. The offense looked clunky. Then came the foot injury in Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans. What was supposed to be a "week-to-week" thing turned into a mysterious out-of-state medical odyssey. By December, head coach Jonathan Gannon—who has since been fired—officially shut him down.
Here is the thing about being the quarterback for Arizona Cardinals: the shadow of the contract is always longer than the player.
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If the Cardinals move on from Murray this spring, they are looking at a dead cap hit of roughly $57.7 million. That is an eye-watering amount of money to pay someone to play for another team. But if they keep him past mid-March 2026, more guarantees kick in, and that number jumps to over $77 million. It’s a financial prison. Owner Michael Bidwill has to decide if he’d rather pay for a mistake or keep living in it.
By the Numbers: Kyler vs. Brissett in 2025
You can’t just look at the 3-9 record and blame the QB, but the tape doesn't lie. Look at how the offense shifted when the veteran took over:
- Kyler Murray (5 Games): 962 passing yards, 6 TDs, 3 INTs. He averaged about 192 yards per game. The big plays just weren't there.
- Jacoby Brissett (Starter since Week 6): He’s been averaging 243.1 passing yards per game with 13 touchdowns.
Basically, the offense moved better with a guy making a fraction of the salary. Brissett isn't as "electric," sure. He doesn't have the 4.4 speed. But he stays in the pocket, goes through his progressions, and actually finds Trey McBride when he’s open. It makes you wonder if the "dual-threat" magic of Murray was actually a crutch that stopped this offense from ever maturing.
The 2026 Draft: Is a New Face Coming?
With the No. 3 pick in the bag, the Cardinals are in prime position to reset the clock. The problem? The draft board is shifting daily.
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Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is widely expected to go No. 1 to Vegas. For a while, everyone in Arizona was eyeing Oregon’s Dante Moore, but he just went on SportsCenter and announced he’s staying in school for his junior year. That move sent shockwaves through the top of the draft.
If you're the quarterback for Arizona Cardinals in 2026, you might not even be on the roster yet. Names like Diego Pavia from Vanderbilt are starting to get "riser" buzz, but is he a Top 5 talent? Or do the Cardinals use that pick on a generational defender like Caleb Downs and try to find a veteran like Malik Willis in free agency?
Willis is an interesting name. He’s been backup up Jordan Love in Green Bay and looked spectacular in relief. Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort has ties to him from their Tennessee days. He’s mobile, he’s got a cannon, and he’d be significantly cheaper than Kyler.
The "Stay" Scenario
Don't count Kyler out just yet. Some insiders, like Jeremy Fowler, are suggesting the door isn't totally closed.
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The Cardinals are currently searching for a new head coach. If a candidate comes in and says, "I can fix Kyler," Bidwill might listen. It’s easier than eating $58 million in dead money. Plus, we’ve seen Kyler be an MVP candidate before. That talent doesn't just evaporate. It might just be buried under bad coaching and a lack of leadership.
What Fans Should Watch For
The next few months are going to be a whirlwind of "source" reports and cap-space math. If you want to know who the quarterback for Arizona Cardinals will be on opening day 2026, watch these three things:
- The New Coach Hire: If they hire a "quarterback whisperer" type, Kyler might get one last chance. If they go with a defensive-minded coach, expect a clean slate at QB.
- The March 15 Deadline: This is the "drop dead" date for Murray’s 2027 guarantees. If he’s still on the roster on March 16, he’s likely staying for the year.
- Pro Day Performance: Watch how the Cardinals staff interacts with the top QBs in March. If Ossenfort is front-and-center at every major QB workout, the writing is on the wall.
Honestly, the Kyler Murray era feels like a "what if" story. What if he never got hurt? What if Kliff Kingsbury had worked out? Right now, the franchise is stuck in the middle. They aren't bad enough to be irrelevant, but they aren't good enough to compete in a loaded NFC West.
Winning in the NFL requires a certain level of stability at the most important position on the field. Arizona hasn't had that for years. Whether it's a rookie, a rejuvenated Kyler, or a veteran bridge, the Cardinals need to pick a direction and stick to it. The fans have had enough "weird years."
Actionable Next Steps for Cardinals Fans
- Track the Dead Cap: Bookmark a site like OverTheCap. The $57.7M figure is the magic number to watch if trade rumors heat up.
- Watch the Combine: Pay attention to how the Cardinals use their formal interviews. They only get 45 of them—who they talk to tells you who they value.
- Check the Medicals: Kyler hasn't spoken to the media in months. Any update on his foot recovery is a massive indicator of his trade value.
The identity of the quarterback for Arizona Cardinals is the biggest question mark in the desert. It's going to be a long, loud offseason until we get an answer.