After a tumultuous season, the team fired head coach Jonathan Gannon, and at QB, the future is a complete unknown. There are not many QB options this offseason, and with a good number of teams around the league needing that position, demand is high, but supply is low.
QB Kyler Murray, whose time seems done in Arizona, is a name floating around other teams’ plans, but what will the Cardinals do?
Arizona Cardinals May Be Willing To Make a Trade for a New Starting QB
If the Cardinals do get rid of Murray, which is a likely outcome after his injury issues, large contract, and inconsistency on the field, they need to find someone to start at least for next season. The NFL Draft is probably out of the question for a potential starter in Arizona next season, so free agency or the trade market would be the best direction.
Former Green Bay Packers QB Malik Willis is arguably the best QB available, but the Cardinals will face some heavy competition for his signature. If they miss out on Willis, the next option would be Daniel Jones, who is likely going back to the Indianapolis Colts.
After those two, it’s bleak in regards to the free agency market, and it’s not much better in the trade market.
The main names here, besides Murray, are Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones. With money or draft compensation in mind, both of those options will be expensive, so if the Cardinals miss out on their top offseason option, they need to pivot, but where?
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According to Cardinals insider John Gambadoro, Arizona may have interest in Chicago Bears backup Tyson Bagent.
Gambadoro wrote, “Have heard the Cardinals are intrigued by Bears backup QB Tyson Bagent. He has one-year left on his deal so would have to trade for him. Grew up in Martinsburg, West Virginia and went to Shepherd University.”
He also wrote, “Was an undrafted free-agent who beat out PJ Walker for the backup job with Chicago and was so good the Bears signed him to a 2-year $10M extension.”
Have heard the Cardinals are intrigued by Bears backup QB Tyson Bagent. He has one-year left on his deal so would have to trade for him. Grew up in Martinsburg, West Virginia and went to Shepherd University. Was an undrafted free-agent who beat out PJ Walker for the backup job…
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) February 17, 2026
The Cardinals having an open mind to other QB options that other teams may not pursue is smart, especially during this offseason.
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The team is ranked 22nd on the PFSN NFL Offense Impact Metrics with an impact score of 71.4. While this is not as impressive, the team will try to work on it.
Bagent is an extremely interesting option and could be the perfect person to play in front of a developmental rookie or just a short-term option for this season. Although he has not had much success starting games in Chicago, Bagent is a cheap (on a 2-year, $10M contract) young option at 25.
