The NFL is inching ever closer to the start of a new season, but the Arizona Cardinals’ quarterback situation is a chaotic mess. With Kyler Murray leaving the desert, the team has a three-way QB competition in a loaded NFC West. Arizona has talent at the skill positions offensively, but needs a steady passer to stay competitive this season. With a big decision in the supplemental draft looming, what quarterback is most likely to win the starting job under first-year head coach Mike LaFleur?
What Is Going On With The Arizona Cardinals’ Quarterback Room?
With the departure of Murray, Jacoby Brissett looked like a lock to be QB1 in 2026. The quarterback didn’t play poorly for the Cards last season, as he posted his highest passer rating of his career as a starter (94.1). Despite the individual success, the team went 1-11 during his starts, which is not a record to be proud of by any means. With the veteran leaving mandatory minicamp without a new contract, the door is open for a new starting QB in Arizona this season.
Gardner Minshew II is another experienced quarterback for the Cardinals, and he might have a chance to be a starter with Brissett’s contract issues. He gained notoriety in his rookie season for the Jaguars, but his career has been uneven since then, with stints with the Eagles, Colts, Raiders, and Chiefs. Arizona needs stability under center, and Minshew’s erratic play would be a disservice to the rest of the offense.
Rookie Carson Beck is unlikely to be a Week 1 starter, but he could be a dark horse in the QB competition if Brissett holds out. The former Miami Hurricane is going to be a game manager in the NFL, but that’s what the Cardinals need right now. With Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jeremiyah Love at the skill positions, the quarterback just needs to take care of the football and not turn it over. With as much work as Beck is putting into the offseason, he is a real contender to start for Arizona.
Who Is Winning The QB Battle, And Will It Matter?
The key to this quarterback battle is Nathaniel Hackett’s offense. It’s a QB-friendly scheme that uses pre-snap motion to identify coverages, and emphasizes timing to get the ball to playmakers in space while limiting sacks. Brissett and Beck are the best fits for this style of offense, with Minshew leaning on his off-schedule playmaking too much for a West Coast system. Without a new contract for Brissett, the rookie from Miami is a legitimate contender for the starting job.
Arizona has the misfortune of rebuilding while the NFC West is as stacked as it’s ever been. The Seahawks just won the Super Bowl, and they should be contenders again despite all the players they lost in the offseason. Meanwhile, the Rams look to be among the NFL’s elite, with the addition of Myles Garrett. A disappointing 2025 may have soured opinions of the 49ers, but they are more than capable of being a factor in the division. The Cardinals badly need steady play from the quarterback position in 2026, or they may be looking at yet another top five pick in next year’s NFL Draft.
The 2027 rookie quarterback class has the potential to be the best since 2004, so the Cardinals might play the long game with a tank campaign this season. Texas’s Arch Manning, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, and Oregon’s Dante Moore are all expected to be elite first round talents, with South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers possessing an intriguing athletic profile. If Arizona’s season goes sideways and Beck shows that he doesn’t have a high ceiling in the NFL, the Cards could secure their franchise QB next season.
