The Pittsburgh Steelers have to find a starting quarterback this offseason, but their options are limited. Many reports indicate that they want Aaron Rodgers back. However, the 42-year-old is a free agent, and he could retire. Therefore, the Steelers need to consider other options. Analyst Matt Harmon suggested that they look into trading for Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.
“I thought, if Rodgers retires, which he should, I actually think the Steelers make sense as a Kyler team,” Harmon said recently on the Football 301 podcast. “I think he can fit in Mike McCarthy’s offense. I think that actually makes a lot of sense.”
The Cardinals selected Murray with the first-overall pick in the 2019 draft. They hoped that he would be their franchise quarterback, but he’s struggled to meet those expectations.
Murray is 28 years old, and he’ll turn 29 before the 2026 season starts. He’s got seven NFL seasons under his belt, but his career has been a mixed bag. Murray started off well, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year and then making the Pro Bowl in each of his next two seasons.
However, Murray tore his ACL near the end of the 2022 season, and that caused him to miss the first nine games of the 2023 season. While he played in every game in 2024, he had a middling year, throwing for 3,851 yards and 21 touchdowns with 11 interceptions.
The injury bug bit Murray again in 2025, with a foot injury limiting him to only five games. Now, the Cardinals have a new coaching staff in place, including a new head coach in Mike LaFleur, leaving Murray’s future in Arizona in doubt.
Murray is under contract through the 2028 season, and it’s not cheap at all. He might not be a terrible option for the Steelers, though, depending on what they’d need to give up for for him.
Murray has great athleticism, and he’s shown that he can be a good NFL quarterback. McCarthy has a history of developing quarterbacks, with Aaron Rodgers and Dak Prescott thriving in his offense. Perhaps Murray would experience a similar boost while playing for McCarthy.
For what it’s worth, McCarthy offered Murray a lot of praise a few years ago when he was the Dallas Cowboys’ head coach. That isn’t enough to connect the two, but it shows that McCarthy at least appreciates Murray’s skill set.
However, trading for Murray might not be best for the Steelers in the long run. He’d probably just be another Band-Aid to put on their quarterback problem. They need to consider drafting their next franchise signal caller, and the 2027 class looks loaded, although it’s still early.
Murray’s recent injury history, along with his prohibitive price tag, likely makes him a less realistic option for the Steelers. They still seem focused on Rodgers but if they wait for him like they did last year, they’ll probably miss their chance to trade for Murray. Under different circumstances, dealing for Murray would make more sense, but the Steelers are likely better served going in a different direction.
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