The quarterback carousel is already beginning to spin ahead of the 2026 offseason. One projection has Arizona at its center. With Kyler Murray’s future uncertain and a new coaching staff in place, the Cardinals are being linked to a veteran quarterback coming off the most productive season of his career.
Daniel Jones Emerges as Potential Kyler Murray Replacement
PFSN NFL analyst Jacob Infante listed the Cardinals as a Top 4 landing spot for Jones. Jones enters 2026 free agency as the most accomplished quarterback projected to hit the open market. The former No. 6 overall pick revived his career in Indianapolis, putting together a breakout 2025 campaign before a season-ending injury cut it short.
For much of the year, Jones was firmly in the MVP conversation. Indianapolis finished with the fifth-best offense in PFSN’s Offense Impact Metric, and Jones ranked No. 5 in PFSN’s QB Impact Metric. The performance marked a significant shift from his uneven tenure with the New York Giants.
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Over his seven-year career, Jones has thrown 89 touchdown passes. At 28, he is young enough to be viewed as more than just a bridge option. His 2025 resurgence mirrors the trajectory of quarterbacks who need the right system to play their best football.
Jones is set to become a free agent at a time when proven starters rarely reach the market. While Indianapolis could attempt to retain him, outside interest is expected. Arizona has surfaced as a logical destination given its current situation.
Why the Cardinals Make Sense as a Fit
Arizona enters the offseason at a crossroads. Murray was injured and later benched in 2025, and the organization turned to Jacoby Brissett down the stretch. But that failed. Arizona fired head coach Jonathan Gannon. Enter Mike LaFleur as head coach. LaFleur spent the last three seasons as the Rams’ offensive coordinator.
The Cardinals’ offensive struggles were vast. Arizona ranked 22nd in PFSN’s OFFi Metric. Tight end Trey McBride is a premier target. Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson provide upside on the perimeter, but outside of that, it’s a thin roster.
Defensively, the challenges were even uglier. The Cardinals ranked 29th in PFSN’s DEFi Metric.
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A quarterback who can operate efficiently within structure could help stabilize a roster in transition. Jones’s ability to function in a balanced system and protect the football fits the type of reset Arizona appears to be pursuing.
Other teams will pursue Jones, but the Cardinals stand out as an ideal fit.
