5 Kyler Murray landing spots in NFL free agency following Cardinals release

A former No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft will have a new home for the 2026 season.

As many expected, the Arizona Cardinals reportedly informed quarterback Kyler Murray that, barring a trade, they will release him when the NFL’s new league year begins on Wednesday, March 11. Murray was the first-overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, coming off a Heisman Trophy season at Oklahoma.

In a post on social media on Monday, Murray seemed to confirm the news. “To everyone that supported me and showed kindness to my family and I during my time in AZ, from the bottom of my heart, thank you,” Murray wrote on X. “I wanted nothing more than to be the one to end the 77 year drought for this organization, I am sorry I failed us. I wish this community and my brothers nothing but the best. I am no stranger to adversity, I am prepared for whatever’s next. I trust in God and my work ethic. I truly believe my best ball is in front of me and I look forward to proving it. Godspeed.”

Over his seven seasons in Arizona, Murray and the Cardinals reached the playoffs just once.

But with a number of quarterback-needy teams around the league —and the incoming rookie class having more questions than answers — Murray could find some suitors on the open market. And while at first blush the financials could be tough for some teams to overcome given his contract, there is a workaround available. As noted by Pro Football Talk, Murray could follow the path Russell Wilson walked a few years ago, signing for a minimum contract and leaving Arizona on the hook for the rest.

Murray is due $36.8 million for 2026, all of which is guaranteed.

Here are five teams that should consider such a move.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers

According to multiple reports, Aaron Rodgers is going to make a decision about the 2026 season sooner rather than later.

But the quarterback we heard from after Pittsburgh’s playoff loss to the Houston Texans did not sound like a quarterback who was going to come back to play for someone, especially someone not named Mike Tomlin.

The Steelers sit at No. 21 in the 2026 NFL Draft and have been linked to Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, but he might not be the immediate answer for the team this season even if Pittsburgh drafts him. Last year’s sixth-round pick, Will Howard, might not be either. Murray would offer an immediate option for the Steelers, and bring some much-needed athleticism to the position.

4. New York Jets

Aaron Glenn’s NFL head coaching journey got off to a rocky start last year with the New York Jets.

But among the many lessons Glenn learned during his first season was this: Build around the quarterback the right way. That means in addition to bringing in the right player for the position, you have to structure the offense and the roster around what that player can do.

“Being able to adapt and be able to understand each player that you have,” Glenn said ahead of New York’s Week 17 game against the New England Patriots. “Between me, Tanner [Engstrand], and the whole offense, we’ve got to figure out what’s the best thing this player can do, and how do we make sure we surround him with the right player to make sure he can do the things that he can do.

“I already knew it, but to actually be a part of and have to deal with it, that was another thing.”

Now Glenn has a full year of NFL head coaching experience under his belt, and a second offseason to try and figure out the quarterback position. Sitting at No. 2 in the NFL Draft, it is very unlikely the Jets will take a quarterback with that selection. Nor is it likely the Jets will take a QB with their second first-round pick ,which comes at No. 16.

According to NFL insider Daniel Jeremiah, the Jets are likely to push the rookie quarterback selection into 2027. However, that means Murray might be the ideal stop-gap option, especially if he comes on a one-year, “prove it” type of contract.

And the Jets might have something of an inside track to Murray, as noted by Zack Rosenblatt, who outlined that Murray’s father was a quarterback at Texas A&M, Glenn’s alma mater. “In terms of skill set, Murray is the kind of quarterback Glenn likes — and he personally knows Murray’s father well due to their Texas A&M backgrounds (Kevin Murray was a quarterback at A&M before Glenn’s arrival at the school),” wrote Rosenblatt after the NFL Combine.

3. Miami Dolphins

Similar to what is happening in Arizona with Murray, the Miami Dolphins are moving on from their own former first-round quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Less than two years after signing a four-year, $212-million contract extension, Tagovailoa is on his way out in Miami. But the Dolphins are in a tough financial position, even after cost-cutting moves like releasing wide receiver Tyreek Hill.

That could make Murray, given his contract situation, a cost-effective answer at QB for 2026.

Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, who was the Dolphins’ passing game coordinator a season ago, is expected to keep a similar offensive approach in the year ahead. And new head coach Jeff Hafley outlined how he wants the offense to look during his introductory press conference, and it sounds a lot like what Murray could offer Miami:

“I like being under center and do I like running the football,” said Hafley, “because the play-action pass off that, you create separation between the second and third level and from a defensive standpoint, that’s really hard. The screen game, the keepers, everything looking the same, hunting explosives, right? Those are things that have always given me trouble as a defensive coach and I’d like to implement some of those.”

Put the pieces together, and it sounds a lot like the landing spot.

2. Minnesota Vikings

Every new report that comes out of Minnesota does not sound good for young Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

The team fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah — who traded up one spot in the 2024 NFL Draft to select him — earlier this offseason. Then there was the report that head coach Kevin O’Connell removed all “middle of the field reads” from the playbook this past season, simplifying the offense for the young quarterback.

Then there was this report that the Vikings are concerned that McCarthy struggles with the more “elemental” aspects of being the face of a franchise.

The Vikings have talent around the quarterback position, led by wide receiver Justin Jefferson, but need to get something more from the QB themselves.

That could make Murray an enticing option for O’Connell, who already showed that he can build an offense around a quarterback like Sam Darnold. O’Connell’s play-calling ability, and Murray’s athleticism, could be a perfect pairing in Minnesota.

1. Atlanta Falcons

Speaking of talent around the quarterback …

The Atlanta Falcons have stars at running back (Bijan Robinson), wide receiver (Drake London), and tight end (Kyle Pitts). They have also added an offensive-minded head coach, former NFL Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski.

They just need an answer at quarterback.

Kirk Cousins is not going to be that answer, as the Falcons are expected to release the veteran when the league year begins. The team hoped Michael Penix Jr. was that answer when they drafted him in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft with the eighth selection — two spots ahead of J.J. McCarthy — but Penix suffered a partially-torn ACL last season, his fifth season-ending injury in eight years dating back to college.

Could Murray be that answer?