Everything in the desert feels a bit like a mirage right now. If you walked into State Farm Stadium today and asked a dozen fans who is Cardinals quarterback, you might get three different answers and a couple of long, frustrated sighs.
It's January 2026. The Arizona Cardinals are coming off a brutal 1-16 season that saw head coach Jonathan Gannon get the axe. Now, the franchise is staring down a massive identity crisis. The "franchise guy" is stuck in contract limbo, a journeyman veteran is holding the clipboard, and the rumor mill is spinning faster than a Kyler Murray scramble.
The situation is complicated. Honestly, "complicated" is an understatement. It’s a mix of massive salary cap numbers, a search for a new head coach, and a roster that feels like it’s being held together by duct tape and hope.
The Current Depth Chart: Who’s Actually Under Center?
Right now, the name at the top of the list isn't the one people expected two years ago. Jacoby Brissett is currently the Cardinals' starting quarterback by default.
He signed a two-year, $12.5 million deal back in March 2025 to be the reliable backup. But when the wheels came off the season and the team decided to "preserve" their high-priced asset, Brissett became the guy. He started the bulk of the 2025 season, including that final loss to the Rams. He's professional. He’s steady. But at 1-10 as a starter this past year, he's clearly a bridge to nowhere.
Then there's the elephant in the room. Kyler Murray.
Technically, Kyler is still on the roster. He’s the highest-paid player in franchise history. He has the number one on his jersey. But he hasn't seen the field since early October 2025. Officially, it was a foot injury that landed him on IR. Unofficially? Most insiders, including ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, suggest the Cardinals "stashed" him.
🔗 Read more: Cowboys Score: Why Dallas Just Can't Finish the Job When it Matters
They wanted to keep him healthy. Not for a playoff run—those dreams died in September—but for a potential trade. If Kyler gets hurt again, his massive 2026 guarantees become an even bigger nightmare to move.
The Backup Situation
- Jacoby Brissett: The current starter and "bridge" veteran.
- Kyler Murray: The franchise star currently in "roster limbo."
- Kedon Slovis: A depth piece fighting for a roster spot in the 2026 camp.
- Clayton Tune: Still hanging around, but mostly relegated to scout team duties lately.
Why the Cardinals Quarterback Situation is a Financial Disaster
Money talks. In the NFL, it screams. The reason why everyone is asking who is Cardinals quarterback is because the team is essentially paying for two different futures at the same time.
Kyler Murray's contract is a behemoth. He is scheduled to make **$42.5 million** in 2026. A huge chunk of that—$36.8 million—is fully guaranteed. If the Cardinals keep him past March 15, 2026, another $19.5 million for the 2027 season locks in.
Owner Michael Bidwill is in a tough spot. He’s already paying off fired coaches. Does he really want to pay $50 million+ for a quarterback that the front office might not even want?
General Manager Monti Ossenfort has to decide by mid-March. If they trade Kyler before that March 15 deadline, they can clear a massive amount of cap space. We're talking $35 million in immediate savings. But who wants a quarterback with a $230 million price tag who hasn't finished a full season in years?
The Minnesota Vikings have been mentioned as a "home run" trade partner. They need a veteran to compete with J.J. McCarthy. The Miami Dolphins are another name floating around, especially with Mike McDaniel looking for someone who fits his high-speed offensive scheme. But until a deal is signed, the Cardinals are stuck in this weird, expensive holding pattern.
💡 You might also like: Jake Paul Mike Tyson Tattoo: What Most People Get Wrong
The Search for a New Leader
You can't talk about the quarterback without talking about the coach. The Cardinals are currently interviewing everyone from Robert Saleh to Rams OC Matt LaFleur.
Whoever takes the job is going to have a massive say in the quarterback room. A defensive-minded coach like Saleh might want a "game manager" like Brissett or a rookie who won't turn the ball over. An offensive guru like LaFleur might look at Kyler Murray and think, "I can fix him."
But let's be real. The product on the field in 2025 was bad. Really bad. The offensive line was a sieve, ranking near the bottom of the league in almost every metric. It didn't matter if it was Kyler or Brissett back there; they were running for their lives.
Potential 2026 Options
- Draft a Rookie: With a high pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Cardinals could hit the reset button completely.
- The Malik Willis Gamble: There’s a lot of talk about Malik Willis. Ossenfort was in Tennessee when they drafted him. He’s mobile, he’s cheap, and he showed flashes of brilliance with the Packers recently.
- Run it back with Kyler: It’s the most expensive option, but maybe the "safest" if no trade partners emerge.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Cardinals QB
People think Kyler Murray is "done" in Arizona. It’s the easy narrative. But look at the numbers. Even in a "down" year, Kyler’s talent is top-10 in the league when he's healthy and motivated.
The problem isn't just the quarterback. It’s the ecosystem. Marvin Harrison Jr. is a superstar in the making, but he and Kyler never seemed to develop that mind-meld connection fans expected. There were missed cues, frustrated gestures on the sidelines, and a general lack of rhythm.
If the new head coach can bridge that gap, the Cardinals could go from 1-16 to a playoff contender overnight. The NFC West is tough, sure, but the NFL is a "worst-to-first" league.
📖 Related: What Place Is The Phillies In: The Real Story Behind the NL East Standings
Actionable Steps for Cardinals Fans
If you're following the who is Cardinals quarterback saga, you need to watch three specific dates. These will tell you everything you need to know about the future of the franchise.
Watch the Head Coach Announcement
The minute a new coach is hired, check their history. If they come from a system that relies on a mobile QB, Kyler might stay. If they are a "West Coast" system guy, expect a trade or a draft pick.
The March 15 Deadline
This is the "Drop Dead" date. If Kyler Murray is still on the Arizona roster on March 16, he is likely your starter for 2026. The financial commitment at that point becomes too high to walk away from.
The 2026 NFL Draft
If the Cardinals don't trade Kyler by April, watch their first-round pick. If they pass on a quarterback to take a tackle or a pass rusher, they are doubling down on the veterans they have.
The next few months will be a rollercoaster. Between the coaching search and the Kyler contract drama, the desert is going to stay hot all winter long. Don't buy a new jersey just yet; wait until the ink is dry on the 2026 roster.