4 Kyler Murray landing spots if (when?) Cardinals trade him

[ASFN Admin]

Life moves fast in the NFL. One day, you're a burgeoning superstar quarterback capable of carrying an entire franchise on your shoulders. And the next, you tear your ACL and get subjected to incompetent coaching that tanks your future with said franchise.

It's hard to remember now, but Kyler Murray was, in fact, a two-time Pro Bowl quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals. He used to have one of the league's brightest futures. Just about half a decade later, he and Cardinals leadership are reportedly no longer on speaking terms, per ESPN, with a trade out of Arizona this offseason becoming more realistic by the day.

Again, life moves fast in the NFL. Don't forget that.

For those of you ready to write Murray off altogether, I would caution against doing so. Recent success stories like Sam Darnold in Seattle and Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay suggest that the 28-year-old Murray could have a terrific second act of his NFL career. That is, if he lands in the right situation. On that note, if Murray's done in Arizona, here are a few teams that very well might take a shot on the Cardinals' passer.

Minnesota Vikings​

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J.J. McCarthy's future with the Vikings might be in doubt. That means all options should be on the table for a Minnesota franchise that suddenly has some extra pressure to succeed and win. The Vikings would have to do a lot of salary cap finagling to fit Murray on their books in any deal, but the pairing of head coach Kevin O'Connell and the quarterback makes a lot of sense on paper. If there's anyone who can get Murray's past Pro Bowl form to resurface, it would be the guy who maximized both Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold.

New York Jets​

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Coach Aaron Glenn's job is safe with the Jets ... for now. There's simply no way the second-year coach can afford another three-win campaign if he wants to stay on the job in New York for the long haul. Taking a calculated risk on Murray and seeing it pay off might just be the gambit Glenn needs to revitalize the Jets. Perhaps new offensive coordinator Frank Reich is the right coach for Murray, too. Though it's worth mentioning that Glenn thought committing to Justin Fields would work out. And well (gestures at everything), look how that worked out.

Pittsburgh Steelers​

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For the time being, it sure seems like 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers really might return to the Steelers next season. Which, sure. Whatever. I guess that's the past Mike McCarthy coach-to-quarterback relationship in play. But what happens if the Steelers can't count on Rodgers? Is a coach like McCarthy going to spin his wheels with a quarterback potentially drafted at No. 21 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft? I have my doubts. This is a Pittsburgh organization that clearly wants to win right now. And maybe McCarthy views Murray as a quarterback he can bring out the best in. There have been crazier ideas for the black and gold, to say the least (like considering keeping Rodgers!)

Miami Dolphins​

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By now, you've probably noticed a theme amongst all the possible teams mentioned here who could trade for Murray. No one is ready to cop to a rebuild. Perhaps Jeff Hafley's Dolphins do tear things down to the studs when they likely move on from long-time starting signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa. But I still have a hard time seeing that happening. What feels more feasible is Miami trading out one expensive veteran quarterback for another while selling itself on the promise of a change of scenery for Murray.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Kyler Murray trade rumors: 4 NFL teams who may deal for Cardinals QB

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