Who will be the Arizona Cardinals starting QB in the 2026 NFL season?
There are a lot of very different opinions out there in recent stories predicting NFL quarterbacks for next season.
Among the possibilities, according to recent NFL QB predictions? Jacoby Brissett, Kyler Murray, Tua Tagovailoa, J.J. McCarthy, Kirk Cousins, Will Levis and Malik Willis.
We told you there were some different opinions.
Here's who NFL writers predict will start the season as the Cardinals' QB in 2026.
USA TODAY Sports: Tua Tagovailoa will be Cardinals starting quarterback in 2026
Jacob Camenker writes: "The Cardinals will likely dangle Kyler Murray as trade bait this offseason. If they find a trade partner, they could roll with Jacoby Brissett as their starter while also looking to pair the 33-year-old with a younger quarterback. Tagovailoa – 28 in March – would fit the bill. He had a down year in 2025, tossing 15 interceptions before being benched in favor of Quinn Ewers, but could be a bounce-back candidate after posting a passer rating of 101.1 or better across the previous three seasons. First-year coach Mike LaFleur could take a chance on Tagovailoa and look to replace him in the 2027 NFL Draft – which is believed to be deep at quarterback – if he struggles."
Masslive.com: Kyler Murray will be Arizona's starting QB in 2026
Three of the site's seven experts think that the Cardinals will stick with Kyler Murray as the team's quarterback next season. Three others predict Tagovailoa to be Arizona's QB. The other has Jacoby Brissett as the quarterback.
Bleacher Report: Arizona Cardinals will start J.J. McCarthy or Kirk Cousins at QB in 2026
Moe Moton writes: The Arizona Cardinals could turn over their quarterback room under new head coach Mike LaFleur. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the team is "likely" to move on from Kyler Murray before his guaranteed money raises the cost to keep him. The Cardinals should call the Minnesota Vikings about a signal-caller swap to dump Murray's contract and take on J.J. McCarthy's rookie deal. The third-year quarterback's contract would cost only about $6 million against the cap. In addition, Arizona can add Kirk Cousins to replace Jacoby Brissett, who may not fit into the new coaching staff's plans. Because of the perceived gap between Fernando Mendoza and the other quarterback prospects in the 2026 draft class, the Cardinals are unlikely to add a signal-caller with the No. 3 pick. Instead, they can develop McCarthy, who's only 23, and have him battle Cousins for the lead job. If Arizona doesn't think the former is ready to play, the latter can run the offense as the unquestioned starter for at least a year. In this scenario, LaFleur would have an experienced quarterback under center while working on a high-upside developmental player who showed flashes in the previous season."
Sportsnaut: Will Levis predicted to be on Arizona Cardinals next season
Matt Johnson writes: "Once Kyler Murray is out of town, Arizona will probably want to find a young quarterback whom it can develop behind Jacoby Brissett and potentially throw out there for a multi-game trial run in 2026. We’ve got our eye on Will Levis. The success Malik Willis had away from the Tennessee Titans and the struggles Cam Ward experienced with Brian Callahan are signs to teams that Levis is a buy-low candidate. The former second-round pick with outstanding physical tools probably won’t cost anything more than a Day 3 pick to acquire. For first-year head coach Mike LaFleur, he can see if he can fix some of Levis’ issues. If all goes well and the third-year quarterback gets to see the field, he’ll be in an offense with Trey McBride, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson to support him. That’s a great chance to prove yourself on a team that’s also not under any pressure to win right away."
NFL Spin Zone: Arizona Cardinals could take chance on Tua Tagovailoa in 2026
Lou Scataglia writes: "Tua Tagovailoa is good enough to be starting in this league, but he and the Miami Dolphins just might need a fresh start. If Kyler Murray heads to the New York Jets in our predictions, could the Cardinals then seek to bring Tagovailoa in? The idea here could be that a fresh start for the Dolphins' QB could be what he needs, as we've seen this be the case with guys like Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield. Furthermore, Tagovailoa, while a limited QB, has been a high-end passer in this league before. We can't pretend that he can't play — a move across the country and into a new conference might be precisely what he needs, and the Cardinals could be willing enough to take a chance."
Fansided: Cardinals will go with Jacoby Brissett as starting QB in 2026
Justin Carter writes: "The Cardinals are done with Kyler Murray, but they also don't really have a path toward finding Murray's long-term replacement this offseason. This draft is weak at the position after the No. 1 pick, and free agency features few names who make sense, so why not just stick with Jacoby Brissett? Yes, the Cardinals went 1-11 with him at quarterback, but Brissett himself wasn't really the issue. Plus, Arizona already has him under contract on a cheap deal in 2026, so why spend extra money on a different quarterback if whoever you add isn't going to be the long-term answer anyway? At least with Brissett, the Cardinals will be fun to watch, even if they still lose a lot of football games."
TWSN: Malik Willis predicted to go to Cardinals in NFL free agency
Nate Varda writes: "Despite finishing 3-14, there are ample weapons waiting in Arizona for Willis to use. Trey McBride is undoubtedly the best tight end in the league, was the only tight end with over 1,000 receiving yards, putting up 1,239 on 126 receptions and 11 touchdowns. Add on Marvin Harrison Jr., the third-year receiver and son of a Hall of Famer, and Michael Wilson, who posted his first 1000-yard season with seven touchdowns. If the Cardinals go offense on their first round pick, taking running back Jeremyiah Love or another wide receiver in Arizona State’s Jordan Tyson or Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, Willis would have his best chance to make the postseason."
Reach Jeremy Cluff at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cardinals quarterback predictions include Kirk Cousins, Will Levis