Well, we have all heard it. We have even read about it. We have seen it in the headlines on every Arizona Cardinals podcast. And each one of us has our own opinions and thoughts.
So, let’s just discuss it: Should the Cardinals sign Green Bay Packers free agent QB Malik Willis? Should the franchise sign free agent QB Jimmy Garoppolo? Should Arizona stand pat and expect to see QB Jacoby Brissett under center in Week 1? Should the franchise draft a new guy by dropping down into the bottom half of Round 1?
RELATED: WHO SHOULD BE THE NEXT CARDINALS QUARTERBACK?
All fair questions, right? After all, the quarterback is the most important position on any football field. Games are won and lost by not having an adequate signalcaller or hiring a superstar.
This time last week, the big question was what would become the new coaching staff’s decision on longtime starter Kyler Murray. Then that ship sailed on Tuesday, and he is either going to be a last-minute trade to a QB desperate club, or he will become an outright roster cut.
Murray’s camp has been pushing for an outright release. Apparently, they are going to get it. Why? For one, if Murray assumed that the Cardinals were going to cut him, with his people coming out and asking for a release, it becomes less of an ego crush, like they made that decision first. Secondly, as a free agent, Murray can work out a deal with whichever team offers the most cash, or enables him to compete for a starting position, or any number of things like playing in a dome versus a cold-weather city.
But Murray is yesterday’s news, correct?
For now, let’s evolve into the current QB situation with the Cardinals. Under contract are Brissett and Kedon Slovis. And that’s it.
QB Jacoby Brissett #7 of the Arizona Cardinals Getty Images
At one time, Slovis was a Heisman contender back in 2020. He came to Arizona as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and signed with the Indianapolis Colts, but was waived on the final cutdowns. The Houston Texans picked him up, and he remained on their practice squad. In the following training camp, he made it to the final cutdown. Two days later, he was claimed by the Cardinals to their practice squad, and was promoted before Week 6 and remained on the main roster. He has two passing attempts.
Brissett has played for 10 seasons on six different NFL clubs. He was known to be the professional backup plan. He signed a two-year deal last year.
Every team brings in four QBs for training camp. The fourth guy is always known as “training camp fodder” and usually retains three QBs during the season. That means that Arizona needs another quarterback for next season. Add a seasoned veteran, or draft a young buck?
Back to the Willis and Garoppolo debate. Should the Cards go after one or the other?
Let’s discuss both and no Hollywood talk. Just facts, hard stats, and analysis. And a beer or three.
Okay, so let’s dive into the Cardinals’ signing of Malik Willis (6’-1”, 225 pounds). He appears to be the frontrunner in just about everything that’s being mentioned.
For starters, he is a bit of a mystery man. Here he is available in free agency, and yet, he is being mentioned as a $30 million a year quarterback. Why is his value rated so high?
Two words: Potential. Okay, that’s one word. More like: Impending potential.
Willis was nothing special in high school, where he played baseball and football, and came out as a three-star prospect, but he ran a 4.4 in the 40. His uncle played in the NFL. Auburn and Virginia Tech were the only big-time schools to offer, along with Georgia State, Ohio, and Ball State. He went to Auburn for two years and lost a competition to Bo Nix, then transferred to Liberty University.
At Liberty, he shone and won several awards. He was the only small school QB to get an invitation to play in the Senior Bowl. And he did not have a very good practice week. Going in, he had a 3-4 round draft evaluation, and didn’t improve his status whatsoever. The Tennessee Titans selected him in the third round to back up Ryan Tannehill. He is not a tall quarterback, but he is still a young man at age 26.
With the Titans, he played in 11 games and started just three in two seasons. He threw for just 350 yards, zero touchdowns, and tossed three picks with a 53.0 % completion ratio. In 2023, he attempted five passes.
The following summer, the Titans shipped him off to Green Bay for a seventh-round pick. In Week 1, starter Jordan Love suffered a sprain, and Willis started two games.
2024 stats with the Packers:
7 games played, 2 starts, 2-0-0 mark, 54 attempts, 40 completions, 550 yards, 74.1% completion ratio, 10.2 average yards per catch, three TDs, 20 first down conversions, sacked 8 times, 0 interceptions, and a 124.8 QB rating. He also rushed 20 times for 138 yards with one score. PFF grade: not enough snaps.
In 2025, Willis did not play until Week 11 when Love was again injured. But Willis played only a single series. In Week 16, Willis came in for Love when he suffered a concussion.
Now with Willis, Arizona GM Monti Ossenfort spent 2022 in Tennessee with Willis. In addition, LaFleur’s brother Matt was Willis’ coach in Green Bay.
2025 stats with the Packers:
4 games played, 1 start, 0-1-0 mark, 35 attempts, 30 completions, 422 yards, 85.7% completion ratio, 12.1 average yards per catch, three TDs, 19 first down conversions, sacked 3 times, 0 interceptions, and a 145.5 QB rating. He also rushed 22 times for 123 yards with two scores. PFF grade: not enough snaps.
Willis NFL career: 4 years, 22 games played, 6 starts, 3-3-0 record
2025 salary: $1.1 million
2026 projection: Two-years, $65.5 million
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Okay, so let’s dive into the Cardinals’ signing of Jimmy G (6’-2”, 226 pounds). He appears to be the favorite in conversations.
Right out of the gate, Garoppolo is 34 years old, one year older than Brissett. He isn’t much taller than Willis and the same build. He is a former second-round pick of the New England Patriots back in 2014.
Like Willis, he played baseball and football, where he played both ways as a linebacker and quarterback. He had three college offers: Illinois State, Eastern Illinois, and Montana State. He chose Eastern Illinois and started eight games as a freshman. He became full time starter as a sophomore and junior.
As a senior. Garoppolo was named First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference, earned the Walter Payton Award (for offensive MVP in D-1), and was voted “Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year.”
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick hand-picked Garoppolo, and then traded him to the San Francisco 49ers three years later. He had a complete season in 2019, where he played in all 16 games. As a sample size of what he can achieve, in that season he threw for 3,978 yards on 476 attempts with 27 TDs to 13 picks and 193 first down conversions. He also had a 13-3-0 record.
In both 2021 and 2022, he played almost full seasons as the starter before injuries. In all, he has had plenty of ailments: 11 to be exact. But none since 2023, and only one that pertains to the knee. He is considered a very low risk of injury.
Something to consider: Garoppolo has been with the Los Angeles Rams for the past three seasons. And who was the Rams OC the past three seasons? Of course, you know the answer, so go ahead and blurt it out.
That familiarity with LaFleur may just tip the scales. Oh, and the money.
Garoppolo NFL career: 12 years, 85 games played, 64 starts, 43-21-0 record
2025 salary: $4.5 million
2026 projection: Two-years, $10.5 million
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The Cardinals need a backup QB. Even though there are reports that Arizona might move Brissett, it all depends on the new head coach, Mike LaFleur, who is an offensive guy. He decided that Murray wasn’t going to be in his offense’s plans going forward, and he may also choose to do the same with Brissett.
LaFleur has a working knowledge of Garoppolo. If the team does sign Jimmy G and trade away Brissett, guess who’s coming to dinner?
It all comes down to what LaFleur has seen out of Brissett from last year’s tape.
Even though Arizona lost a ton of games with Brissett as their starter, remember, he ranked first in completions, second in passing yards, and third in passing touchdowns from Week 6, when he took over for Murray, through the rest of the season.
Most likely, two things will happen: the Cardinals will sign a veteran as backup to Brissett, and they will draft a young QB in April’s NFL draft.
If that is Ty Simpson of Alabama in Round 2 or LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier in the third round, then there’s the future under center. If it’s a guy like Cole Payton from North Dakota State or Penn State’s Drew Allar on Day 2, the developmental road will begin with Brissett and the newly-signed veteran to assist with the tutoring.
And then again, Arizona might just sign a completely different free agent quarterback. If they want a Week 1 starter, then the franchise could bring in Kirk Cousins. If for a backup role behind Brissett, perhaps Tyrod Taylor, Trey Lance, or Case Keenum.
Hard to believe that Willis is this budding superstar with just six starts under his belt and limited stats.
If he had that much untapped potential, why did Tennessee ship him off for cheap? And now pay him like he is an established star? Really? Other than his completion percentage being so dad-gum high, where are his numbers? Why did Green Bay just let Willis walk without getting anything of value for him? If Arizona is considering spending all that money on Willis, why didn’t they just keep Murray instead, and the problem of a starter/backup is immediately solved?
Brissett has one year remaining. The most likely scenario is to sign Garoppolo for cheap and have the two fight it out for the starting role, with the loser the designated clipboard holder….or, um, tablet holder.
Then draft a quarterback.
If it’s a second or third round choice, allow him to sit out a season and develop under two seasoned veterans. Then see how he is in his second training camp. Either veteran could be retained for another year if needed, or maybe the young buck will be ready. Both Alabama and LSU run pro-style offenses, so they should be way ahead of the curve.
Early next week, all of the speculation comes to a close as the real thing begins.