Much of the conversation around the New York Jets has shifted to their path toward a top quarterback in the 2026 NFL draft.

At 1-7, New York isn’t expected to make a late-season playoff push. The team has too many inconsistencies at the quarterback position to instill long-term confidence.

That quarterback question is inevitably going to bleed into the 2026 offseason. While starting quarterback Justin Fields is under contract for another year, the Jets are expected to add additional competition to the room.

Many Jets fans hope that competition comes in the form of Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza or Alabama signal-caller Ty Simpson.

But there is an additional option—one who will have a market once his time in Arizona this season seemingly comes to an end.

That would be former Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray.

Kyler Murray’s future in Arizona

Since being the top overall pick in 2019, Murray has put up respectable numbers in his time with the Cardinals. Murray has completed 67.1 percent of his passes for 235.2 passing yards per game, tossing 121 touchdowns to 60 interceptions. He’s also rushed for 36.7 yards per game and 32 touchdowns.

As a two-time Pro Bowler, former Offensive Rookie of the Year, and a vote-getter for Comeback Player of the Year, Murray has had an interesting NFL journey through his first seven seasons.

But as talented as the Oklahoma product is, there are clear reasons why 2025 may be his last season in Arizona.

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Murray is just 38-48-1 as a starting quarterback. He has dealt with injuries over the last few years as well. The 28-year-old has missed 20 of the Cardinals’ 75 games since 2021.

The Cardinals have made just a single playoff appearance during his tenure.

With Arizona sitting at 2-5 and Murray struggling to return from a foot injury, the future is cloudy for the Cardinals and their quarterback. In 2022, Murray signed a five-year extension with the team that paid him over $230.5 million.

Should Arizona look to trade Murray following the 2025 season — and there’s reason to think that could happen — the franchise would take on around $18 million in dead money. It’s a large amount, but nowhere near the most in the NFL in recent seasons. They would clear over $35 million in cap space.

That premise hinges on how Murray and the team perform over the rest of the season.

If the Cardinals cannot make the playoffs this season, head coach Jonathan Gannon could be on the chopping block. That means a new regime, Murray’s third since becoming quarterback, would come in. It could also mean that the quarterback’s time out west may be at an end—with many quarterback-needy teams like the Jets in need of services like his.

Jets QB plans

The Jets are not the only team in desperate need of a new quarterback once the 2026 offseason begins.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (if Aaron Rodgers retires), Minnesota Vikings (if they are unsure about J.J. McCarthy), New Orleans Saints, and Las Vegas Raiders are just some of the other organizations that could be in the market for a signal-caller next offseason.

If the Jets cannot get the top overall pick in the draft or the rookie quarterback of their dreams, securing a veteran on the open market is certainly on the table.

New York is set to have over $80 million in cap space going into 2026. Much of that space could go to long-term extensions for some of their young players or improving key areas of the roster, such as pass rusher, wide receiver, and safety.

Quarterback, though, remains their biggest hole.

Murray is not a top 10 quarterback in the NFL, but his talent is top 10. While the veteran certainly makes some head-scratching decisions on a weekly basis, his skill set as a versatile runner and thrower is a good fit for Tanner Engstrand’s current offensive system in New York.

Drafting a rookie quarterback is on the table for the Jets. It’s the best path forward to get the team to turn around its recent string of losing seasons. But if they aren’t bad enough to secure the top overall pick, a veteran signal-caller might end up being their best bet.

Murray could be the top target available.