Another Gamble? What the Release of a Former First-Overall Pick Could Mean for the Steelers
On Tuesday, March 3rd, the Arizona Cardinals announced that quarterback Kyler Murray would be released once the new NFL league year begins on March 11th. This move was expected around the league, as the Cardinals' change in coaching and personnel seemed likely to lead to a departure from their franchise quarterback. Over Murray’s seven years with the Cardinals, he has started 87 games, throwing for 20,460 yards, 121 touchdowns, and 60 interceptions, while also rushing for 3,193 yards and 32 touchdowns. He won the 2019 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award after the Cardinals selected him with the first overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Since Murray’s release, several teams have been mentioned as potential suitors if he continues to play professional football, rather than returning to baseball, which has not been ruled out yet.
Despite recent updates on the Aaron Rodgers situation in Pittsburgh, which claim that he is likely to return, this decision by Arizona poses a major question for the Steelers. Will they run it back with the four-time MVP, who played the majority of his career with Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy in Green Bay, or will they approach the former first overall pick, only 28 years old, with lots of skill and upside left in him? The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback will most likely receive the veteran minimum from whichever team signs him, as the Cardinals will pay all of his $36 million contract in the 2026 season. There is concern with Murray’s health and leadership skills. Over the past four seasons, the 28-year-old quarterback has only played one full 17-game season; last year, he appeared in only five games before suffering a mid-foot sprain, which placed him on injured reserve for the remainder of the season. A large part of the decision for Pittsburgh will come down to how long they want to wait for the four-time MVP to make a decision. Steelers GM Omar Khan does not believe that Rodgers' decision will last until June, as it did during the last offseason, and a recent appearance on the Pat McAfee Show supported this claim as Rodgers expressed a desire to keep playing, likely returning to Pittsburgh.
A big issue with Murray, according to Steelers beat writer Loyal Ricks, is that his career has “included flashes of brilliance, but also questions about leadership, durability, and consistency. Those concerns don’t vanish simply because the market shifts.” He also explains that if the Steelers feel pressured to sign the 28-year-old due to other options at quarterback, such as Rodgers or Will Howard appearing uncertain, that it would only lead to more issues, and that “that’s precisely when restraint matters most.” The Steelers are used to taking gambles with one-year quarterback signings or simply hoping for a resurgence in a quarterback's career. From signing Mitchell Trubisky or Russell Wilson to trading for Justin Fields, the Steelers have tried and failed terribly with their quarterback hopefuls since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger. During the 2025 season, Rodgers showed flashes, and now that he is reunited with his former coach, there is a lot to be excited about if he returns. On the other hand, if Murray can figure out his injury issues and become a solid leader for a new team, Pittsburgh is still searching for that true franchise quarterback, and the former Oklahoma Sooner could be that guy.
