The Arizona Cardinals have some work to do this offseason. While Mike LaFleur has already been hired as the team’s new head coach, it’s safe to say that the roster needs some tuning up. Easily the biggest area of need is the quarterback position, where the team is set to move on from Kyler Murray once the new league year gets underway.
While the decision to part ways with Murray isn’t a massive surprise, this isn’t the best time to need a new quarterback, as both the free agent class and 2026 draft class are fairly weak. However, there is an intriguing option in free agency that could make sense for the Cardinals, thanks in large part to their new head coach, LaFleur.
Cardinals Linked to Malik Willis in Free Agency
After earning a pair of Pro Bowl selections in 2020 and 2021, Murray quickly flamed out with the Cardinals over the past few years. A poor offensive scheme certainly didn’t help, but Murray also has struggled to stay on the field, as he’s missed at least six games in three of the past four years. With the team effectively shutting him down and turning things over to Jacoby Brissett in 2025, that paved the way for Murray to head out of town this offseason.
While Arizona is going to have to stomach a major loss from a financial perspective by releasing Murray, it should still have enough cap space to make a run for a guy like former Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis. Over the past two seasons, Willis has gotten his career on track while working as Jordan Love’s backup. Of course, it’s worth noting that Willis spent his time in Green Bay working with Matt LaFleur, who is Mike’s older brother.
While Mike has no connection with Willis himself, his brother showed the world how Willis should be utilized under center after a failed stint with the Tennessee Titans to begin his career. In the eyes of many evaluators, Willis is the top quarterback available in free agency, and Bucky Brooks of NFL.com believes that the Cardinals would be the top landing spot for him, given his familiarity with the LaFleur family.
“New coach Mike LaFleur could borrow the blueprint that his brother, Packers coach Matt LaFleur, used to help Willis play like a franchise QB,” Brooks wrote. “Thanks to the presumed familiarity between the quarterback and the play-caller, along with the connection between Willis and general manager Monti Ossenfort (who was serving as the Titans’ director of player personnel when Willis was drafted by Tennessee), the Cardinals appear to be the perfect match.”
Should the Cardinals Sign Malik Willis?
GettyGreen Bay Packers backup QB Malik Willis.
Willis played sparingly for the Packers over the past two seasons, but when he found his way onto the field, he excelled. In 11 games of action, Willis completed 78.7% of his passes for 972 yards and six touchdowns. He also ran for 261 yards and three more scores on the ground, indicating that he could very well be a top-tier dual-threat quarterback if given the opportunity to start on a regular basis.
Wherever he lands in free agency, it seems like that’s an opportunity Willis is going to earn. With a new offensive system in place, the Cardinals make a lot of sense for Willis, as they also have the top-tier weapons needed on offense (such as Trey McBride, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Michael Wilson) to ensure he’ll have a shot at succeeding. Willis is going to cost a lot, but if Arizona can fork over the money needed to land him, it should make a serious push to bring him to town.
Cardinals Named as Top Fit for Free Agent QB with Mike LaFleur Connection