The Pittsburgh Steelers have hopped on the quarterback carousel in each of the last few offseasons, much to the dismay of many of their fans. But with Aaron Rodgers potentially headed for retirement and slim pickings in the 2026 NFL Draft, they may be headed for the same routine again.
Luckily, one option just became glaringly obvious. Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon just announced that Kyler Murray will not play for the rest of the season. Murray has been dealing with a foot injury that has kept him sidelined for months, but this announcement seems to say more about the quarterback's future in Arizona than it does about his current health. All signs point to the Cardinals moving on from the QB this offseason.
If they do, the Steelers should at least test the waters to see what a package would look like. After all, Murray could be their best option at the position moving forward.
Steelers could trade for Kyler Murray in the offseason after QB misses the remainder of the season
Murray has been inconsistent throughout his Cardinals career. He has struggled to string together positive performances, leading to frustration among fans in Arizona. Still, it's clear that he has the talent to be a quality starter in the NFL. At times, he's played at a top-ten level.
The Steelers will likely be picking near the middle of the first round yet again in 2026, making their chances of finding a long-term starter at quarterback in the draft slim. Even if they do draft a young QB, the rest of the roster may be aged out of contention by the time the prospect is ready to compete at a high level. Especially if the current regime is still around next season, it wouldn't be a surprise to see them make another win-now move.
Especially after Gannon's announcement, the Cardinals have lost all leverage they once had in a potential Murray trade. It's clear that they are ready to move on from the quarterback, so it may not take too much to get him. There's even a chance that Arizona would consider cutting him in the offseason if they can't find a trade partner.
At the very least, the Steelers should monitor this situation moving forward. If Rodgers walks away in the offseason, Murray may end up being their best path to remaining competitive in 2026 and beyond.