NFL Rumors: Arizona Cardinals Evaluating Quarterback Kyler Murray's Future

The Arizona Cardinals are uncertain of whether or not they have a franchise quarterback. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Cardinals intend to play Kyler Murray extensively this season in order to evaluate whether or not he has a future with the team.

From The Insiders on #NFLPlus: #AZCardinals QB Kyler Murray is expected to play for them this season, and one of the reasons is... they want to see him. pic.twitter.com/FNBK2NcZbr
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 19, 2023

Murray has yet to play this season as he recovers from a torn ACL suffered late in 2022, but the Cardinals recently opened his three-week practice window, indicating he should be ready for game action soon.

The Cardinals made Murray one of the league's highest-paid quarterbacks following a breakout 2021 season that saw the team finish 11-6 and reach the playoffs for the first time since 2015. Unfortunately, Murray and by extension the Cardinals regressed precipitously in 2022: Murray set career lows in net yards per attempt (5.24) and passing yards per game (215.3) and lost eight of his 11 starts.

At only 5'10" but with elite speed and elusiveness, Murray is an exciting and endearing novelty at the quarterback position, but he simply hasn't proven he can help a team play consistently winning football. The Cardinals are comfortably below .500 since drafting him first overall in 2019, and they've yet to finish better than 11th in scoring in any season he's led them as a passer.

The Cardinals currently sit at 1-5, putting them square in contention for a high pick in a draft that reportedly features an elite quarterback class. If Murray can't play well enough to lift his team out of the range of a top prospect, then the Cardinals should seize the opportunity to move on with a clear conscience.