The question of who is the Cardinals QB sounds like a simple one, but if you ask any fan at State Farm Stadium, you’re going to get a complicated answer. It is Kyler Murray. It has been Kyler Murray since 2019. Yet, despite the jersey sales and the massive contract extension, the vibe around Murray is constantly shifting between "franchise savior" and "expensive enigma."
He’s small. He’s fast. He’s got an arm that looks like it belongs on a much bigger human.
But being the quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals isn't just about the physical tools. It’s about the noise. People love to talk about his height. They love to talk about his "Call of Duty" habits. They definitely love to talk about that "independent study" clause that was famously—and awkwardly—scrubbed from his $230.5 million contract back in 2022. It’s a weird spot to be in for a guy who was the first overall pick and the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Why the Cardinals QB Discussion Never Truly Settles
The reason people keep asking who is the Cardinals QB or wondering if the team is looking for a replacement isn't because Murray is bad. It’s because the NFL is a "what have you done for me lately" league. After he tore his ACL late in the 2022 season, the team went into a tailspin. We saw a rotating door of backups like Colt McCoy, Clayton Tune, and Joshua Dobbs.
Watching Joshua Dobbs try to learn the playbook in three days was impressive, sure, but it reminded everyone how much the offense relies on Murray’s specific brand of chaos.
When Murray finally returned in late 2023, he looked... different. Under head coach Jonathan Gannon and offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, the "Air Raid" stuff was gone. They wanted him under center. They wanted him to play "real" football. And honestly? He looked better. He looked like a guy who realized that his legs are a weapon, not a crutch. But the win-loss record still didn't scream "Super Bowl contender," which keeps the rumor mill churning.
The Marvin Harrison Jr. Factor
You can't talk about Kyler Murray without talking about the weapon he finally got in the 2024 NFL Draft. For years, the Cardinals tried to find that alpha receiver. They had DeAndre Hopkins, but that ended with a release and some drama. They had Marquise "Hollywood" Brown, but he was more of a vertical threat than a consistent #1.
Then came Marvin Harrison Jr.
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Drafting a generational talent like Harrison changed the math. If you're the Cardinals front office, you aren't just asking who is the Cardinals QB for this Sunday; you’re asking who is the best person to throw the ball to a 6'4" monster who catches everything. By sticking with Murray, the Cardinals signaled that they believe he is the guy who can elevate elite talent. It puts the "he can't see over the line" jokes to rest when he’s dropping dimes to a guy with Harrison’s catch radius.
Breaking Down the Kyler Murray Contract Headache
Let's get into the weeds for a second because money is why this topic stays hot. Murray’s contract is a behemoth. We’re talking about a deal that keeps him under team control through 2028.
- He signed a five-year, $230.5 million extension.
- Over $100 million was fully guaranteed at signing.
- His cap hits are massive.
When a team pays a player that much, the fan base expects deep playoff runs. Anything less feels like a failure. If the Cardinals were to move on, the "dead cap" hit would be astronomical. This basically makes Murray "the guy" whether the skeptics like it or not. You don't just trade a contract like that unless you find a desperate partner, and in the NFL, desperation usually leads to bad trades.
Honestly, the contract is a shield and a sword. It protects his job, but it also makes him the lightning rod for every single loss. If the defense gives up 35 points, people still look at the guy making $46 million a year and ask why he didn't score 36.
The Backup Situation: Who Steps in if Murray Goes Down?
We have to talk about the depth chart because, given Murray’s injury history, the "who is the Cardinals QB" question often has a secondary answer. Behind Kyler, the Cardinals have leaned on a mix of youth and veteran presence.
In 2024 and heading into the 2025 cycle, the team focused on stability. They didn't want a repeat of the Dobbs/Tune experiment where the season felt lost the second Murray touched his knee. Having a guy like Clayton Tune—who has some mobility and a decent arm—allows the offense to stay somewhat similar in philosophy, even if the talent level drops off a cliff.
But let’s be real. If Murray isn't on the field, the Cardinals' identity vanishes. The playbook shrinks. The defense plays more minutes. It’s a mess.
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Coaching Philosophy and the "New" Kyler
Jonathan Gannon came from Philadelphia. He saw what Jalen Hurts could do in a system that valued discipline and power running. He’s trying to mold Murray into that same vein. This isn't the Kliff Kingsbury "scramble for your life" offense anymore.
- More play-action: Using the threat of James Conner to freeze linebackers.
- Targeting the middle: Actually using the tight ends (looking at you, Trey McBride).
- Pocket presence: Encouraging Murray to step up rather than bailing out the back.
This evolution is the most important thing to watch. If Murray can master the "boring" parts of being a quarterback, he becomes one of the most dangerous players in the league. If he reverts to bad habits, the "draft a new QB" talk will start again by November.
Misconceptions About the Cardinals QB
There is this weird narrative that Kyler doesn't care about football. People point to the video games. They point to his body language on the sidelines.
It’s mostly nonsense.
Teammates like Budda Baker—hardly a guy who puts up with laziness—have consistently defended Murray’s work ethic. The "video game" thing became a meme because the internet loves a joke, but it’s rarely based on what’s actually happening in the film room. Most NFL players have hobbies. Some hunt, some play golf, Kyler plays Warzone. If he wins, nobody cares. If he loses, it’s because he didn't study enough. That’s just the tax of being a high-profile athlete in the social media era.
The Height Obsession
He’s 5'10". Maybe.
Does it matter? Drew Brees was 6'0". Russell Wilson is 5'11". The difference is that those guys perfected the "climb the pocket" move to find throwing lanes. Murray is still working on that. His height only becomes an issue when the interior of the offensive line gets pushed back into his lap. When the pocket stays clean, he can see just fine.
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What the Stats Actually Tell Us
If you look at the raw numbers, the "who is the Cardinals QB" debate gets even more interesting. Murray’s career completion percentage usually hovers around 66%. That’s elite. His touchdown-to-interception ratio is generally very good.
The problem is the "big play" variance. In his early years, he was a human highlight reel. Lately, the offense has felt more stagnant. Part of that is the talent around him, and part of it is the league "solving" some of his favorite rushing lanes. To stay relevant, he has to evolve into a distributor. He has to become the guy who takes the 5-yard checkdown ten times in a row until the defense gets bored and gives up the 50-yard bomb.
The Path Forward for Arizona’s Signal Caller
Arizona is in a tough division. The 49ers are a machine. The Rams have Sean McVay. The Seahawks are always scrappy. For the Cardinals to win, Murray doesn't just have to be "good." He has to be the best player on the field.
The organization has finally started building the right way. They are beefing up the offensive line. They are drafting blue-chip targets. They are building a defense that doesn't require the offense to score on every single possession.
So, who is the Cardinals QB? He’s a guy at a crossroads. He has the money, he has the talent, and now he has the infrastructure. The excuses are officially gone.
Key Insights for the Season Ahead
To understand where the Cardinals are headed, keep an eye on these specific indicators:
- Red Zone Efficiency: Murray is lethal in space, but the field shrinks in the red zone. If his completion percentage inside the 20-yard line drops, the Cardinals are in trouble.
- Trey McBride’s Targets: The connection between Murray and his star tight end is the barometer for the offense. A healthy dose of targets for McBride means Murray is reading the middle of the field correctly.
- Third-Down Rushing: Watch how often Murray runs on 3rd and medium. If he’s picking up first downs with his legs, it breaks the spirit of the opposing defense.
If you’re looking to follow the team's progress, the best move is to track the "Success Rate" metrics rather than just total yards. In the Gannon era, it’s all about staying on schedule. A quarterback who avoids 3rd-and-long is a quarterback who wins in the NFC West.
The next step for any fan is to watch the first four games of the schedule. If Murray is playing under center and using play-action effectively, the Cardinals are likely a playoff team. If he’s back to "hero ball" and running for his life in the first quarter, it’s going to be a long winter in the desert.
Check the injury reports weekly, as Murray’s mobility is his greatest asset and his biggest risk. When he’s 100% healthy, there isn't a defensive coordinator in the league who sleeps well on Saturday night. That’s the reality of who is the Cardinals QB—he’s the most dangerous player in the room, provided he stays on the field and in the playbook.