From imminent Kyler Murray-Cardinals split to tea leaves about Daniel Jones and Deshaun Watson, QB questions abound entering NFL free agency

When Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur took the podium at the NFL scouting combine, he shared publicly a sentiment that coaches and executives have shared across hallways and closed-door meetings in recent weeks.

“He was always a problem,” LaFleur said last week of quarterback Kyler Murray. “The defensive coordinators I worked with, it wasn’t a fun week for them [facing him.]”

LaFleur was commenting on a quarterback still on his roster, and yet, the writing was on the wall. The Cardinals had already effectively benched Murray during the 2025 season to avoid triggering injury guarantees. LaFleur had not shifted courses to endorse him upon arriving as a first-year head coach in February. And now, Murray’s $19.5 million guaranteed salary in 2027 threatened to trigger in mid-March if the Cardinals did not release him sooner — on top of the $36.8 million in guarantees for the 2026 season due Murray either way.

So on Tuesday, Murray confirmed what had long been suspected: His time playing for the Cardinals is over.

“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 said in a post 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.”

The Cardinals are expected to release Murray next Wednesday, when the league year turns over, barring a surprise trade that Murray’s contract makes unlikely.

That Murray will be not only available, but available in 2026 for the veteran minimum salary as the Cardinals pay him the rest of the $36.8 million he’s due, impacts the quarterback market significantly.

Teams with sticky cap situations or limited draft capital are on track to no longer need to worry about Murray’s 2026 salary ($1.3 million) nor the assets he’ll cost. Murray, with money in his pocket from Arizona, no longer needs to factor in which team will pay him the most in 2026.

So expect Murray to eye teams that will position him well to succeed, both because of their surrounding talent and because of the path to their starting quarterback role. The Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons have caught the attention of league sources, with the Indianapolis Colts proving another dark-horse contender.

The Vikings have 2024 10th overall pick J.J. McCarthy in house, but injuries and inconsistent play leave league sources expecting the club to bring in competition.

[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league for the 2026 MLB season]

The Falcons have 2024 eighth overall pick Michael Penix Jr. in house, but Penix tore his ACL in late November which could call into question his readiness to perform and feel fully comfortable in Week 1. NFL brass often consider the first year back from an ACL tear to require a degree of re-acclimation before a player’s body appears to fully adapt to its new normal. Penix has suffered five season-ending injuries across college and the NFL, including three torn ACLs, so his durability is also reasonable to question.

Indianapolis, meanwhile, placed a transition tag on quarterback Daniel Jones (more on that in a minute) but could have reason to question his Week 1 availability after Jones tore his Achilles on Dec. 7.

While league sources are split on how many more strong years Murray has in the NFL, they overwhelmingly believe his health and motivation will position him well for 2026. And his résumé is deeper than that of previously top available free agent Malik Willis.

Since the Cardinals took Murray first overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, Murray has completed 67.1% of pass attempts for 20,460 yards, 121 touchdowns and 60 interceptions. He’s rushed for another 3,1983 yards and 32 touchdowns, losing 13 fumbles.

Murray’s 92.2 passer rating ranks 24th across quarterbacks active during his seven seasons, while his 32 rushing touchdowns rank third, behind the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen and the Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts.

Murray has declined some physically in recent years, talent evaluators say, but he is still considered a dual-threat quarterback who will frustrate defensive coordinators in game-planning and live action alike.

In his Tuesday statement, Murray made clear how he feels about his next chapter.

“I am no stranger to adversity,” he said. “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.”

More news and notes as free agency approaches …

What transition tag means for Daniel Jones

The Colts tagged Jones on Tuesday, but the club chose to use the $37.8 million transition tag rather than the $43.9 million franchise tag. The tag may send a message about the Colts’ long-term plans — while also clarifying the climate of negotiations.

The transition tag gives the other 31 teams more ability to sign Jones than the franchise tag would have. While a non-exclusive franchise tag would have allowed teams to negotiate with Jones, they would have owed the Colts two first-round picks in order to complete the transaction. The transition tag, meanwhile, allows teams to negotiate with Jones free of any draft compensation hangup — though the Colts do have the right of first refusal to match any offer.

The Colts may be willing to bet on Jones glimpsing the market because they know teams will see that his December Achilles tear presents a huge question mark. Jones played MVP-caliber ball to start the 2025 season. But his play tailed off some as the season elapsed, and then his injury followed. Additionally, the bulk of Jones’ résumé reverts to a mean below what he displays in 2025. The Colts will need to decide: Do they think Jones’ early 2025 performance is indicative of his long-term ability under head coach Shane Steichen? And do they believe his rehabilitation is progressing well enough that they can count on his physical ability to execute that level of play? Paying a player before they came back from injury is risky but not totally unheard of: The Cowboys gave quarterback Dak Prescott a mega-contract in March 2021 before he had returned from a compound fracture and dislocation of his ankle.

Colts brass may prefer to watch Jones play out a one-year deal that doesn’t strap him to the organization beyond 2026, especially if a regime change at general manager or head coach comes. The “risk” ofJones playing well again in 2026 and costing the club is unlikely to be prohibitive from the team perspective: The Colts would still have the opportunity to re-sign him.

There are reasons for the Colts to prefer a one-year deal with Jones on the tag. Some league sources believe that’s reflective of the sentiment among at least some in Colts leadership. And yet: The transition tag smooths the path to a multiyear deal in the event the Colts decide they want to move forward. With Jones owed about $6 million fewer this year than if he were franchise-tagged, the floor for negotiations (with this tag, and a theoretical 2027 tag worth 120% of the 2026 cost) is less prohibitive for conversations.

Cleveland will feature an interesting QB room that includes Shedeur Sanders (left) and Deshaun Watson. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

(Jason Miller via Getty Images)

The QB who could convince the Browns to sit out this QB carousel

First-year Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken sees promise in second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders, league sources say. But Sanders will not be handed the starting quarterback job. And some sources with knowledge of the Browns’ conversations wonder if he’ll even beat out in-house options.

The questions don’t primarily stem from uncertainty about Sanders, whom general manager Andrew Berry said at the combine “grew a lot from start one to start seven.” They instead stem from a growing undercurrent of belief that Deshaun Watson could make a serious push at the Browns’ starting job in 2026.

The Browns opened the 21-day practice window for Watson in December after he missed all earlier-season team drills while recovering from a 2024 Achilles tear. Returning to practice requires far less agility and command than live game play, of course, but Watson’s performance there caught the attention of some in the building.

Watson is due $46 million guaranteed this season whether or not he plays, which gives the Browns motivation to keep him on the roster. Add in a 2027 quarterback draft class that’s much stronger than the 2026 group, and there’s reason for the Browns to eschew costly quarterbacks this offseason.

Monken described the position as an “open competition,” lauding Sanders’ “elite playmaking ability” while also saying the 2024 fifth-round pick has “a ways to go” like most players do coming off their rookie years.

“Why wouldn’t it be an open competition?” Monken said at the combine. “I don’t mean that saying it harshly, but I don’t think there’s enough on film over the last couple years, one way or the other, to say, ‘Boy, we have our starter at quarterback yet.’ Whether internally or externally.”

An open competition could favor Watson, whose athletic ceiling and processing ceiling each surpass those of Sanders, league talent evaluators say. Serious injuries, as well as suspension for allegations of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct, have sidelined Watson in recent years. Watson last played a full season in 2020, when he led the league with 4,823 passing yards. He played six games in 2022 and 2023 each, followed by seven in 2025. There should be real questions — but the parts of the game most likely to challenge him after extended time off won’t come until the regular season. And the Browns want a decision before then, Monken said.

“You would hope that by the time you get to training camp, that the reps that you’re giving to a quarterback is for your starter,” Monken said. “Whether we get to that place, I don’t know. That’ll be determined in the offseason as part of it. That’s just another part of the piece.”

Read the full article here