Kyler Murray’s impending release from the Arizona Cardinals is sparking talk for every quarterback-needy team. While some media analysts have tried to sell the idea of a Murray and Pittsburgh Steelers marriage, PPG beat writer Ray Fittipaldo thinks it’s all radio fodder.
“I still think Aaron Rodgers is gonna be the guy, but even, even if Aaron Rodgers is not the guy, I’m not sure Kyler Murray is the answer,” Fittipaldo said on 93.7 The Fan during a Wednesday morning interview.
Predictable and expected, the Cardinals will officially cut Murray one week from today when the new league year begins. Murray spent most of 2025 on the sidelines, starting only five games with six touchdown passes and three interceptions. A hot start to his career has since faded due to injury and poor play and Murray’s only led one winning season of his career.
“Small quarterbacks, I’ve never really believed in small quarterbacks,” Fittipaldo said. “You had the whole Doug Flutie thing many, many years ago that didn’t really work out.”
Flutie is an odd pull for a league that has more recent success with small and short quarterbacks. Russell Wilson, Drew Brees, and Bryce Young are all contemporary cases to point to.
Still, like with Russell Wilson two years ago, the wrinkle with Murray is the potential of a cheap contract. The Cardinals are on the hook for his salary, meaning Murray can sign a veteran minimum deal with a team like Pittsburgh. That makes the conversation more interesting and less risky. Murray is only 28 and his mobility would be a plus in the Steelers’ offense, which started one of the league’s slowest quarterbacks in 2025 in Rodgers.
As Fittipaldo points out, the Steelers are unlikely to do anything until Rodgers gives the franchise an answer. It’s why that happening before free agency is important for the health of the franchise. If Rodgers doesn’t come back, Pittsburgh needs to know soon to chart its next course of action.
In a quarterback-barren market, Murray figures to have suitors sooner than later and quarterback dominoes should quickly fall once names like Malik Willis sign.
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