Andrew Buller-Russ
New coaching staffs often want to pick their own quarterback. With the Arizona Cardinals hiring Mike LaFleur, changes are likely coming to the QB room too.
Kyler Murray is already rumored to be available via trade (though he’d prefer to be released). Meanwhile, Jacoby Brissett is coming off a career year, meaning Arizona could either capitalize on his improved trade value by selling high. Or they could see if he’s unlocked an elevated level of performance in Arizona, and roll with Brissett for another season at the low cost of just $9.1 million.
Either way, if the Cardinals do move on from Murray, they’ll need to add another quarterback to the roster, and getting an insurance policy in case Brissett can’t have sustained success would be ideal. Yet, the new coaching staff may already have another QB in mind.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Cardinals are interested in signing two-time Super Bowl champion Jimmy Garoppolo.
“Free agent Jimmy Garoppolo heading to Arizona is a strong option, too. The Cardinals have interest, and Mike LaFleur is considered very close with Garoppolo. ‘That’s his guy,’ a league source said. LaFleur can create a clean path to restart his quarterback room by adding at least one veteran and drafting a QB. That makes Murray and Brissett expendable, and the feeling in Indy is that Murray wants out of Arizona. Something to keep in mind with Garoppolo: He has one of the league’s best QB2 jobs with the Rams, who would welcome him back. Joining Green Bay as a No. 2 is also an option.”
ESPN on Jimmy Garoppolo
Garoppolo is now 34 years old, but he’s gone 42-21 as a starter, making him seemingly a very capable fill-in starter if needed. Either way, it’s clear that LaFleur, who coached Garoppolo for four seasons in San Francisco and two seasons in Los Angeles, would be comfortable with having him as his QB in Arizona.
Related: Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowler Wants To Be Cut From Team
