As the saying goes, when there's smoke, there's fire. One Pittsburgh Steelers beat writer swung the door open for the club to trade for Arizona Cardinals star quarterback Kyler Murray.
Steelers new head coach Mike McCarthy's previous interest in Murray is certainly noteworthy. However, the latest intel on the two-time Pro Bowler's market price gives this connection legs; it's almost as if the stars are aligning for Pittsburgh.
By the sound of it, Murray can be had at a fairly reasonable cost, one that may be too good for the Steelers to ignore.
Kyler Murray's reported trade value gives the Pittsburgh Steelers a golden chance to pounce
ESPN's Josh Weinfuss cited an "NFC source" that believes the Cardinals will ship Murray off if given the opportunity. Moreover, the unnamed individual added that the "market starts with a third-round pick," paving the way for Pittsburgh to strike.
You know who has a plethora of 2026 third-round selections? The Steelers. They have their own choice, a compensatory pick, and the one they received in exchange for standout wide receiver George Pickens.
Coughing up an asset the Steelers have an abundance of to address their biggest offseason question sounds like a logical move. Murray presents Pittsburgh with a viable solution to its uncertain situation under center. And perhaps most intriguingly, he has the upside to be a long-term solution.
The non-Murray alternatives are less than ideal for the Steelers, or any QB-needy squad, for that matter. They can spend premium draft capital on a prospect in an underwhelming signal-caller class, though that approach burned them not too long ago (hello, Kenny Pickett).
How does retaining a diminished Aaron Rodgers for his age-43 campaign sound?
We'll take the 2019 No. 1 overall pick, who's still firmly in the prime of his career (28). Murray has shown he can be among the most lethal dual-threat passers in the NFL when right. A change of scenery to partner up with an experienced offensive mind like McCarthy could do wonders for him — and the Steelers.
Murray was effectively benched in favor of Jacoby Brissett, a veteran journeyman, this season. But in 2024, he finished seventh in the league in completion percentage (68.8), ninth in ESPN's total quarterback rating (63.4), and 11th in passing yards (3,851). His production through the air was supplemented with 572 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.