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The original was posted on /r/nfl by /u/MasonL52 on 2025-11-19 22:21:22+00:00.

It sure feels like the Kyler Murray era in Arizona is over. It was a long and confusing time, as Murray toed the line between an exciting, electric franchise QB, but a limited, small, low-floor option at the position. His 1st-overall status and ACL injury that disrupted two seasons really made this process drag out. But as of the 2025 season, it doesn’t feel like the best path forward for either him or the Cardinals is to stick this out.

On the surface, there may not be a massive market for Murray. No team will be chomping at the bit for Kyler with his limitations seemingly clear. However, the need for QB and the scarcity of the position will always make it a buyer’s market. As things stand currently, there are only ~1-3 QBs who should command interest in the upcoming NFL Draft. I can say with confidence that more than 1-3 teams will be in need of a new QB in 2026.

I don’t believe the cost of Kyler will be significant. His injuries, size, benching for Jacoby Brissett, and lack of sustained high-end production will all lower his price. However, an electric, 28-year-old QB, 1st-round status, and a reasonable contract will keep him popular. His cap number, should the trading team take it, will be a bit higher than ideal. However, his guaranteed money does dry up after 2026, making this less risky long-term.

With all of that in mind, here’s a wide net, in order from least to most likely, of teams I believe will be in the Kyler sweepstakes next off-season.

I’m posting this sort of content around NFL teambuilding to my substack, so any support there would be much appreciated! :)

 

Honorable Mentions

 

The Los Angeles Rams will need a successor to Matthew Stafford at some point, but the odds of the Cardinals trading him in-division to Sean McVay are low, as should McVay’s likely interest be.

The Carolina Panthers at least need competition for Bryce Young next offseason. That said, they’re winning, so an outright replacement could be hard to find. Dave Canales has done an excellent job building an offense around the limitations of Young, so Kyler would be an upgrade in most categories.

The New York Jets, like the Panthers, have already built an offense around a QB with a similar limitation, but may just miss out on a rookie. Kyler is at very least better than Justin Fields, but the upgrade may prove to be negligible at the price of the upgrade.

 

Tier II - Eh, maybe.

 

Miami Dolphins

On the surface, this feels like more of an honorable mention than anything near realistic. I don’t disagree. However, it does feel like there’s a growing chance that Mike McDaniel will keep his job next year. The new GM will dictate that decision, but some changes will have to be made.

It feels like the best thing for both Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa is a change of scenery. Not a full, new chance, but a reasonable opportunity to start and play for a new team in a new offense. Do the financials of that work out? Eh.

If you Arizona, then you aren’t left without a QB in this case. That could be appealing should Jonathan Gannon keep his job. Even Jacoby Brissett made this offense look more like an offense. Tua can distribute the ball, which makes Trey McBride and Marvin Harrison Jr. more effective options that can lead an offense.

If you’re Miami, Kyler is exactly the player that McDaniel has targeted: pure speed. It’s not the ideal primary attribute for a QB, but Kyler does fit right into that explosive style of play this offense is predicated on.

Would either fanbase be happy? Probably not. Would both owners, front offices, QBs, and coaches be eager to try something new? I think so.

 

Cleveland Browns

The murmurs between this pair are already popping up.

Do I love this pairing? No, not really. Will Cleveland need a QB in some capacity? As always, yes.

The odds are that the Browns will target a rookie QB heavily in this draft. Armed with an extra 1st-round pick, Cleveland has everything it needs to be in position for a young gunslinger.

But, should they be just out of distance, fall in love with two prospects within their draft range, and are willing to take a known quantity to compete now with their defense… this pairing isn’t impossible. Far from it.

 

Minnesota Vikings

Every passing week, we grow more weary of JJ McCarthy. Much like the Trey Lance/49ers relationship, these two exist on different timelines. Could McCarthy develop over time like Sam Darnold once did in Minnesota? Absolutely. Do the Vikings have time to find out? No.

This Vikings team is capable of great things, but McCarthy has been flat-out bad. If he can’t pull together a reasonable finish to the season, the Vikings will be in a tough spot between his development and contention.

Does Kyler Murray make them contenders? That’s a hard bet to make. But we didn’t think Sam Darnold could do that for them either.

Murray could come at a cost where McCarthy isn’t totally deprived of an opportunity. If he can compete and keep Murray on the bench, fantastic. If he can’t, he was never going to be the answer, anyway.

 

Tier I - My Favorite Fits

 

Las Vegas Raiders

Do the Las Vegas Raiders really want to go down this well again and give up another good pick for a retread? They may not have much choice.

I’d assume Pete Carroll keeps his job, which may be bold considering how the season is going. But in that case, I feel that it’s unlikely that they target a young QB. This roster still has holes on both sides of the ball and needs all the help it can get. Considering Carroll’s age and the state of the team, inserting a rookie doesn’t feel like a great bet, short or long-term.

But you can’t return Geno Smith.

So, what’s left to do? Take a shot. Dreams of a Baker Mayfield-type resurgence aren’t completely dead. Pete Carroll made it work with Russell Wilson by knowing his limitations. He salvaged Geno Smith’s career when no one else thought he was any more than a backup.

It might not spark supreme confidence, but Pete Carroll may be one of Murray’s best bets.

 

New Orleans Saints

Unlike other teams drafting this high, I actually quite like what the Saints are building. They’ve invested in the trenches and have a savvy, young play-calling head coach.

There’s still a chance the Saints fall just outside of the sweet spot to get a QB in the draft, and if that happens, is Kellen Moore really gonna stick with Tyler Shough exclusively?

Maybe.

But Moore has had success with a short, limited QB before. Kyler is not equal to Jalen Hurts at this time, but perhaps with a good line and patient offensive mind, he can get near that upside he was drafted for.

 

Pittsburgh Steelers

Will the Steelers ever be in a position to draft their own QB again? Will they even want to after Kenny Pickett?

This franchise has always had its own way of doing things. Sometimes it’s brilliant, other times it crashes hard. The fact of the matter is, should Aaron Rodgers retire this offseason, they’re back to square one.

Does Kyler Murray really seem like a Steelers QB? Not really to me, either.

That said, Mike Tomlin may be the perfect coach for him, and I really like the fit in Arthur Smith’s scheme.

Murray can’t really see the field well. How do you fix that? DK Metcalf on the outside and three massive TEs everywhere else. Smith’s outside zone-based run game can open up a lot of opportunities to get Murray on the move and outside the pocket.

This may simply be a situation where need meets opportunity, but the fit isn’t all that crazy to me.