The Arizona Cardinals are staring down a pivotal offseason, and the quarterback position is front and center in that conversation. Kyler Murray is still under contract, but after the way last season wrapped up, there’s a growing sense that the franchise might be ready to hit the reset button under new head coach Mike LaFleur. LaFleur's arrival signals a new era in the desert, and with that comes a big decision: stick with Murray, or move in a completely new direction under center.
The quarterback carousel is already spinning league-wide, and Arizona’s situation is one of the more intriguing. According to ESPN’s Ben Solak, the Cardinals are firmly in the mix among QB-needy teams, and they’ve got a few different paths they could take.
One of the names that’s come up? Jimmy Garoppolo.
After spending the last stretch backing up Matthew Stafford in Los Angeles, Garoppolo could potentially follow LaFleur to Arizona. It’s a move that would make sense from a system and familiarity standpoint-Garoppolo knows the kind of offense LaFleur wants to run, and even if he’s not the long-term answer, he could be a stabilizing force in the short term.
But Garoppolo isn’t the only name being floated. There’s also chatter about Malik Willis, who’s still viewed by some evaluators as a developmental prospect with upside. Then there’s Ty Simpson, a quarterback who could be available in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft-another potential building block if the Cardinals decide to go young and mold their next franchise guy from the ground up.
Let’s not forget: Jacoby Brissett is still under contract for another year. He could be the bridge option while the team eyes the 2027 draft class or lets a rookie develop behind the scenes. Brissett’s a known quantity-steady, experienced, and capable of managing an offense while the rest of the roster takes shape.
Of course, a lot of this hinges on what happens with Kyler Murray. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Cardinals are actively shopping Murray in trade talks.
And it’s not hard to see why. Murray’s contract is a major factor here-cutting him outright would saddle the team with a dead cap hit north of $54.7 million, which would be the second-largest in league history behind only Russell Wilson’s $85 million hit when the Broncos moved on from him in 2024.
A trade, on the other hand, would offer some much-needed financial relief-roughly $35 million in cap savings. That kind of flexibility could go a long way as Arizona looks to retool its roster, especially on offense, where help is needed across the board.
If Garoppolo does end up in Arizona, he’d bring more than just familiarity with LaFleur’s system. He’d bring a calming presence to a locker room that’s been through a lot of turnover in recent years. After spending time behind a veteran like Stafford, Garoppolo could help stabilize things while the Cardinals figure out their long-term plan.
Bottom line: Arizona has options. Whether it’s rolling with Brissett, taking a swing on a young quarterback in the draft, or bringing in a veteran like Garoppolo, the Cardinals are clearly in transition. And with LaFleur now steering the ship, the quarterback he trusts most will likely be the one leading the charge into this next chapter.