All aboard the quarterback carousel.
It might not be a good year to need a game-changer at the most important position in sports, but it’s not a bad year for the veteran quarterback market. Plenty of proven names are set to hit the open market following trades or releases with their former clubs, opening the door for some new looks in 2026.
Kyler Murray is one who is now atop that list after the Cardinals informed the seven-year veteran they intend to release him on the first day of the league year next Wednesday, barring a trade between now and then.
There should be no shortage of suitors for the quarterback, who has proven to be a solid dual-threat option in the league, despite making just one playoff appearance with the Cardinals. If he lands in the right situation, that could make all the difference for Murray and the team that secures his services.
Here’s a look at some of the top landing spots for Murray in free agency.
Where will Kyler Murray land?
Minnesota Vikings
If win-now is what Murray wants to do, win-now is what he could do with the Vikings. They are a roster built for success right now and the quarterback change from Sam Darnold to J.J. McCarthy proved to be the difference in 2025. Darnold won’t be walking through that door, but perhaps Murray could be the change that Minnesota needs.
The Vikings are loaded with talent on offense, which would give Murray the best supporting cast of his career. His dual-threat ability can open up Kevin O’Connell’s offense in a way that it hasn’t been. If they get a motivated Murray, Minnesota could quickly right the wrong and become a contender in the NFC North again.
New York Jets
The Jets would be wise to leave no stone unturned this offseason when it comes to the quarterback spot. They can try the draft, reclamation projects, veteran, change of scenery and more. Murray might be the most talented of the bunch, but New York is a team that can capitalize on a better quarterback class in the 2027 NFL Draft, if they are willing to wait that long.
However, the biggest factor standing in the way of Murray heading to the Jets is the new offensive coordinator – Frank Reich. The OC has typically fared well with taller, more prototypical quarterback builds rather than those of smaller frames. If Reich has learned from his experience with Bryce Young in Carolina, there are certainly worse ideas for the quarterback-starved franchise.
Miami Dolphins
Out with the old, in with the new. There is a changing of the guard taking place in South Beach this offseason as the Dolphins look to move on from Tua Tagovailoa. Like Murray, both of these players check in as change-of-scenery candidates. Since Tagovailoa’s departure will cost Miami a ton, regardless of the release designation, Murray could slide in as a talented quarterback who shouldn’t cost too much.
In many ways, it would be the best of both worlds for player and franchise. If the experiment works out, the 28-year-old could find a long-term home in the Sunshine State.
Cleveland Browns
Much like the Jets, the Browns are starved for a quarterback who can win football games. If Murray can do that, he is automatically on the list. The Browns already have Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel on the roster going into the offseason, but none of them are tied to the new head coach, Todd Monken. The coach already admitted that he won’t name a starter at this stage, that the players will decide with their on-field performance.
Monken, who was the offensive coordinator for Lamar Jackson with the Baltimore Ravens, has experience working with a mobile quarterback and getting the best out of him. Since Cleveland isn’t in a spot to draft a franchise quarterback, taking a flier on Murray might be the next best thing.
Atlanta Falcons
Is Kevin Stefanski married to the idea of Michael Penix Jr. as his starting quarterback for 2026? You wouldn’t know if he was after the coach declined to name Penix as the starter. With Kirk Cousins set to be released, it begs the question – who else would be the starter for Atlanta? Could it be Murray?
Penix’s injury history is a key concern for the Falcons going forward after his 2025 season was cut short with a torn ACL. While the team invested a high draft pick in the quarterback, Stefanski isn’t the one who made the selection. He could easily pivot to someone like Murray, who would step into an offense with plenty of talent to work with. As far as landing spots go, this has to be one of the more intriguing, under-the-radar options to monitor in the coming weeks.