The Arizona Cardinals will have a different feel next season after firing Jonathan Gannon and hiring Mike LaFleur as their head coach. The Cardinals could also move on from franchise quarterback Kyler Murray this offseason.
If the Cardinals part ways with Murray, who has a $52.6 million cap hit in 2026, they will have to add another arm to their QB room. For now, Jacoby Brissett is ready to return, possibly even as the starter after a career year where he threw for 3,366 passing yards and 23 touchdowns in just 12 starts. The only other QB on the roster (besides Murray) is 2024 undrafted free agent signee Kedon Slovis.
Thus, it doesn't matter if the Cardinals add another QB to the roster; It is a question of who, when and how.
However, now speculation has begun about the Cardinals signing Aaron Rodgers this offseason.
"Currently, it is believed that the Steelers will be the only viable option for quarterback Aaron Rodgers in 2026. But what about the Cardinals? The most obvious link is offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. The Broncos hired him as head coach in 2022, at a time when it was believed the Packers would be willing to trade Rodgers."
The future Hall of Fame QB's ties to Arizona are strong. In addition to Hackett, Coach LaFleur's brother, Matt, was Rodgers' head coach for four seasons in Green Bay. Florio says the Rams (Mike LaFleur's former team) kept Rodgers as their "Plan B" in case Matthew Stafford left last offseason.
Are those connections strong enough to keep Rodgers on a team that finished last in its division with a 3-14 record in 2025? We may find out soon, but the Steelers are expected to have mutual interest in bringing Rodgers back for another year, which could help raise the QB's price in free agency.
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