There has been early speculation linking the New York Jets to Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray during this offseason. However, a former teammate of Murray has delivered a strong caution to the Jets about pursuing him as a potential signing.
According to Rich Cimini on the Flight Deck podcast, he relayed a conversation with one of Murray’s former teammates who advised the Jets to steer clear of the quarterback. The teammate reportedly said,
“No, no, no, the Jets don’t want to do that. You don’t want Kyler Murray as your quarterback.”
Durability and Performance Issues Surrounding Murray
Murray’s track record has raised doubts, as he has missed at least three games in four of his last five seasons. Notably, during two of the last three seasons, he was sidelined for a total of 21 games. This pattern contributes to concerns about his reliability on the field.
Cimini also noted,
“Kyler Murray has attracted a lot of speculation with regard to the Jets. I’d be a little surprised if they went down that road. He has not been a durable player. He has not been a good player, quite frankly.”
He added,
“So there has always been talk about how he doesn’t love football. So I’d be a little surprised, you know, Aaron Glenn always talks about culture, that one would surprise me.”
Inside Information Suggests Murray as a Potential Option
Earlier in the offseason, NFL insider Benjamin Allbright shared information indicating the Jets could be seriously considering Murray. Speaking on Boy Green Daily at the close of the 2025 regular season, Allbright referred to Murray as a “legitimate option” and confirmed New York would be among the interested teams if Murray became available.
On January 14, responding to a Jets fan on social media about the team’s quarterback situation in 2026, Allbright wrote,
“I’ve been whispering that Kyler Murray might be in play there as a bridge quarterback for the better part of a couple months. We’ll see.”
Speculation Mounts that Murray Could Become Available Soon
Kyler Murray, who will turn 29 before the 2026 season, has three years remaining on his $230 million contract extension. However, financial deadlines tied to this contract create pressure on the Cardinals’ decision-making.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport explained,
“There is a deadline because if he’s on the roster on the fifth day of the league year this March, $19.5 million in 2027 becomes fully guaranteed (a year early, essentially).”
His colleague Tom Pelissero added,
“The most likely scenario for the Cardinals is to release Kyler Murray after the start of the new league year.”
Cardinals Head Coach Offers Ambiguous Outlook on Murray’s Future
Following the hiring of Mike LaFleur as Arizona’s head coach, media appearances hinted at uncertainty regarding Murray’s role moving forward. When asked directly about Murray’s potential as the 2026 starting quarterback, LaFleur said,
“Again, I’m not going to answer that question today because we gotta go have all of those conversations. We’ve had some closed door conversations about how we are going to make sure this roster is the best it can be going forward.”
Potential Implications for the Jets and Murray’s Career
The warnings from a former teammate, combined with Murray’s injury history and contractual complexities, create a tense backdrop for the Jets’ offseason decisions. While insiders like Benjamin Allbright keep Murray in consideration as a bridge quarterback, the realism of his fit with the Jets remains uncertain given cultural and performance concerns.
If Murray’s release by the Cardinals becomes official, the Jets will face the difficult choice of balancing risk versus opportunity in acquiring a talented but injury-prone quarterback. This decision will have significant implications not only for the team’s future direction but also for Murray’s career trajectory in the NFL.
Yikes!
A former teammate of Kyler Murray warned the #Jets about going down that path this offseason via ESPN’s Rich Cimini:
"I was talking to someone, one of his former teammates, the other day, and he basically warned off the Jets about [him]. I said, 'You know the Jets might… pic.twitter.com/I5SBWzR3Vo
— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) February 5, 2026
I’ve been whispering that Kyler Murray might be in play there as a bridge quarterback for the better part of a couple months. We’ll see. https://t.co/h1vyRgkPIK
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) January 14, 2026
Arizona Cardinals New HC, Mike Lafleur on if Kyler Murray is an option for the QB position in 2026.
Interesting response. Hmmm🤔
Via @BurnsAndGambo 🎥 pic.twitter.com/grI0CcNRyb
— K1SinceDay1 (@KSzn2021) February 3, 2026
