Arizona Cardinals Mike LaFleur
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Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur says that he's happy with where the team currently stands at the quarterback position.
It’s a new era for the Arizona Cardinals. Mike LaFleur is in as the team’s next head coach. Meanwhile, former first overall pick Kyler Murray is out, on his way to the Minnesota Vikings. That means it’s also time for Arizona to turn a new leaf at the quarterback position.
There is an expectation that Arizona takes a look at either the NFL Draft or free agency to supplement its roster. If that doesn’t happen, however, LaFleur shared that he’s happy with what the Cardinals are currently bringing to the table.
“We like where we’re at right now,” LaFleur said.
As it stands now, the Cardinals have two veterans who have spent the majority of their careers as backups on the roster, in Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew. Brissett was with Arizona in 2025, starting 12 games in place of Murray. Minshew, meanwhile, was a backup with the Kansas City Chiefs. Kedon Slovis, who has thrown two passes in the NFL, is also on the roster.
Mike LaFleur Opens Up on the Decision to Move on From Kyler Murray
Kyler Murray Arizona Cardinals
GettyFormer Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray
It’s never easy to move on from a quarterback who you once hoped would be the franchise star. Mike LaFleur knew that. He also knew replacing him wouldn’t be easy in the short term. Still, it was important for the Arizona Cardinals to hit the reset button going into the 2026 season.
“We had discussions (about keeping Murray) and we’ll keep it at that,” LaFleur said. “You name it, we were talking about it. The quarterback position is the most important position in all of sports. We know that. There were lengthy conversations in so many different aspects of it and there will continue to be until we know we have the most perfect room possible.”
The end of Murray’s tenure in Arizona was a difficult one. The former Offensive Rookie of the Year went to the Pro Bowl twice early in his career. However, injuries and inconsistency became an issue in recent years, only playing a full season once since 2021. In five games last season, he completed 68.3 percent of his passes for 962 yards and 6 touchdowns to 3 interceptions.
Cardinals Trade Pitch Would Send C.J. Stroud to Arizona
C.J. Stroud Houston Texans
GettyHouston Texans QB C.J. Stroud
Regardless of what Mike LaFleur says, the Arizona Cardinals are going to be searching for their franchise quarterback. That is typically found through the NFL Draft or free agency. However, with some creativity, there is room for the Cardinals to land a star quarterback through a trade.
Recently, it was suggested that the Houston Texans and their quarterback, C.J. Stroud, could end up being the solution there. However, it would cost a steep price.
In the proposed trade, Arizona would be giving up its 2026 first-round pick (No. 3), its 2027 first-round pick, and its 2026 second-round pick (No. 34). In return, Stroud would become the franchise quarterback in the desert. That comes ahead of an NFL Draft where a franchise quarterback isn’t expected to be available at the third overall pick.
Stroud is an interesting quarterback. He’s flashed brilliance but has had his own issues with consistency. This move would let him hit the reset button in Arizona, while the Texans would have the chance to keep building up their roster into one of the best in the AFC.