The Arizona Cardinals are looking to figure things out at the quarterback position, essentially closing the door on starter Kyler Murray returning. With new head coach Mike LeFleur looking to correct course for the franchise, there likely is a new quarterback getting ready to become the starter. Let’s take a closer look at which other NFC North quarterback could be under center for the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1 of the 2026 season.
The Arizona Cardinals have shown interest in Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason
Dec 12, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (11) warms up before the start of the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images, Arizona Cardinals
Dec 12, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (11) warms up before the start of the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
The Arizona Cardinals have shown interest in signing Los Angeles Rams backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Below is what he wrote regarding the situation:
“Free agent Jimmy Garoppolo heading to Arizona is a strong option, too. The Cardinals have interest, and Mike LaFleur is considered very close with Garoppolo. “That’s his guy,” a league source said. LaFleur can create a clean path to restart his quarterback room by adding at least one veteran and drafting a QB. That makes Murray and Brissett expendable, and the feeling in Indy is that Murray wants out of Arizona.”
Garoppolo signed a one-year, $3.005 million contract last offseason with the Rams. The 34-year-old quarterback has been a backup quarterback over the last few seasons. In his career, he has completed 1304 of 1936 (67.4%) of his passes for 15,828 yards with 96 touchdowns to 52 interceptions. With LaFleur looking at Garoppolo as a potential starting quarterback to help develop a rookie, it would be interesting to see how well he can play.
Garoppolo has spent the previous two seasons as the backup to Matthew Stafford in Los Angeles, but has made a Super Bowl earlier in his career with the San Francisco 49ers earlier in his career.