The New York Jets need a new quarterback and the Arizona Cardinals might be ready to part ways with theirs.
The Jets signed Justin Fields to be their starter in 2025, but the former first-round pick failed miserably in the role, which led to him getting benched. Now, the expectation is Fields will be cut this offseason.
In Arizona, Kyler Murray is on the outs with his team.
Murray's 2025 season was plagued by a foot injury, but he was seemingly set to be benched for Jacoby Brissett before landing on injured reserve. As a result of all that, like Fields, Murray is expected to be playing elsewhere in 2026.
But could the Jets really be Murray's next destination? Matt Johnson of Sportsnaut predicts they will be.
"One scenario that could unfold this offseason involves the Cardinals and Jets helping each other land a starting quarterback," Johnson wrote. "New York could pick up extra draft capital in exchange for moving down to the third overall pick and taking on the Kyler Murray contract. Murray would get a fresh start in Tanner Engstrand’s offense, stepping under center for a team that has Garrett Wilson and Mason Taylor to help elevate the passing game. At the very least, he would be a more reliable dual-threat option than Justin Fields. Plus, New York could use the extra draft capital to rebuild its roster. If Murray does not perform well next fall, the Jets still have three first-round picks in the 2027 NFL draft to land a franchise quarterback of the future."
Had Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore declared for the draft, the expectation was New York would land the Oregon star at No. 2 overall.
However, Moore made the decision to stay in college, and right now there doesn't appear to be another prospect worthy of the Jets' No. 2 pick, so that adds more uncertainty to New York's offseason.
That means the Jets need a bridge quarterback, and on the surface Murray would be a solid one. The two-time Pro Bowler is better than Fields, and while he does have a big contract, there is no guaranteed money on it past this coming season, so the Jets can cut him in 2027 if things don't pan out.
And that big contract will also make Murray cheaper than he otherwise would be in terms of the draft capital necessary to acquire him.
The problem with pairing Murray with the Jets is there have been questions over his work ethic in the past, and if that proves to be true in New York, Murray and head coach Aaron Glenn are going to clash big time.
Murray to the Jets is so clearly a situation that could go very badly, but leave it to the Jets to trade for him anyway.
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