Forget the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings.
The Miami Dolphins also aren’t good enough for Kyler Murray in 2026.
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Kyler Murray has been told which NFL team to joinCredit: gettyTeam that ‘botched’ QBs will be perfect fit for Murray
The $230 million quarterback is expected to soon need a new team as free agency begins, and a longtime NFL front office member is adamant that there is one franchise clearly above the rest when it comes to Murray’s future.
It’s the same franchise that features a roster loaded with young talent but has created a nightmare quarterback situation in recent years.
“Atlanta really would be the most optimal situation,” NFL Network analyst Marc Ross exclusively told talkSPORT.
“Get him (Murray) back indoors. They’ve got plenty of young talent with Drake London and Bijan (Robinson) and and Kyle Pitts, bringing him back.”
READ MORE ON FALCONS
With the Arizona Cardinals coming off a 3-14 record and expected to release Murray while still paying him $36.8 million in guaranteed money, 31 other teams could be pursuing the former No. 1 overall pick.
Murray, 28, is a dual-threat QB who won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2019, has made two Pro Bowls, and has recorded 153 combined passing and rushing touchdowns.
The Jets, Vikings and Dolphins are expected to pursue Murray, while the Pittsburgh Steelers could turn to the former Oklahoma star if Aaron Rodgers opts for retirement instead of a 22nd NFL season.
But Ross believes that the Falcons’ new head coach — who spent the 2025 campaign working with Shedeur Sanders on the Cleveland Browns — can help revive Murray’s in-limbo career.
Cleveland Browns connection for dual-threat talent
“Kevin Stefanski is there now,” Ross said.
“That would just be the ideal situation where Kyler, whatever is going on with him — if he can get healthy and get his mind right — that would be a dynamic, dynamic offense.”
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Murray plays with a QB style similar to Shedeur SandersCredit: getty
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Sanders showed improvement as a rookie while learning from Kevin Stefanski with the BrownsCredit: Getty
Atlanta’s offense ranked 24th in average scoring (20.8 points) last season.
The Falcons, who are valued at $6.3 billion and owner by Arthur Blank ($10.9bn), fired Raheem Morris as head coach and cleaned house by also moving on from Terry Fontenot as general manager.
With former Atlanta Super Bowl QB Matt Ryan now leading the organization in a newly created president of football role, the Falcons could add Murray to boost an offense that hasn’t lived up to its young talent.
While Ross believes that Murray and the Falcons could be a perfect fit in 2026, the NFL Network analyst isn’t a fan of Atlanta’s past QB decisions.
Time for Falcons to move on from Penix
“I don’t know if anyone has botched the quarterback situation as much as they have the last few years,” Ross said.
“With, number one, paying Kirk (Cousins) all that money and then taking (Michael) Penix (Jr.). Trading up to get Penix in the first round and now Penix is hurt, once again. No surprise.”
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Cousins, 37, will be released when the new league year begins on March 11.
The former Washington, Minnesota and Falcons QB will be one of the biggest names on the open market, and has already earned more than $320m during his 14-year career.
But Atlanta chose to promise Cousins $180m over four seasons, then drafted Penix at No. 8 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Two years later, Murray could become the next answer for the new-look Falcons under Stefanski and Ryan, while Penix must prove that he can stay healthy in the pros.
“Going into it, you really can’t count on Penix because, is he going to get hurt again?” Ross said.
Falcons don’t have to worry about hardball
One question that the former New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles employee pushed aside was the idea that Murray could choose to play Major League Baseball.
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Michael Penix Jr is coming off another major injuryCredit: Getty
The seventh-year NFL QB was also drafted with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2018 amateur draft by the Oakland Athletics.
“Kyle will still keep pushing that off,” Ross said. “There’ll be plenty of suitors for him.”
Atlanta needs a more reliable QB than Penix after moving on from the aging Cousins.
If Stefanski believes that Murray can still be a Pro Bowler, the ex-Cardinal will soon be a Falcon.
Read More on talkSPORT
He’s earned more than $170m in his career and could be the best available QB in 2026.
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