Steelers Not Expected To Add This Thrilling QB: "He's Not The Answer"

The Pittsburgh Steelers head into 2026 with huge decisions to make regarding their quarterback room. The team has to decide whether to start a young QB who has never played a snap, wait on Aaron Rodgers, draft a quarterback, or add one in free agency. This question mark shapes how the Steelers will attack this offseason and their future. Will they put their season in the hands of a young guy, or attempt to remain competitive with an established veteran? Either way, a big-name quarterback that has just been released is now circulating as one that Pittsburgh could be intrigued by.

The Arizona Cardinals will be releasing their long-time quarterback, Kyler Murray. The former first overall pick in 2019 is coming off a disappointing season for Arizona, where he only appeared in five games due to injury. The quarterback has had some success individually, but has only led the Cardinals to the Wild Card Round once, where they were blown out by the Los Angeles Rams. Murray performed horribly in that game with only 137 passing yards and two interceptions. This statistic would be a nightmare for Pittsburgh as the team hasn't won a playoff game since 2017. 

Murray is a great athlete and is great at extending plays with his legs; however, he is very undersized, and that has always been a concern. The quarterback has proven he can be a solid passer, but turnovers have been another issue that has plagued him throughout his seven-year NFL career. Murray has had issues hanging onto the ball, and his TD/INT ratio isn't the greatest (121 TDs to 60 INTs). The quarterback would be an interesting addition to Head Coach Mike McCarthy's roster; however, adding him is increasingly unlikely. 

Steelers beat reporter Ray Fittipaldo believes that Murray would not be a good fit with Pittsburgh.

"I'm not sure Kyler Murray is the answer. It didn't work out with football for a variety of reasons, some of the off the field stuff and the study habits. When he doesn't have some of the intangibles or the above-the-head game, I'm not sure if Mike McCarthy would want to go down that road," Fittipaldo said.

Murray has experienced his fair share of flak due to his inability to finish out seasons. The Cardinals have often been a hot team to start seasons, and they have fizzled out towards the end. Murray's study habits and off-the-field issues have gotten in the way of his ability to maintain winning seasons as well.

Murray has been known to have tensions with coaches, failing to study film, and injury issues. Murray suffered an ACL tear in 2022 and encountered lingering foot issues that kept him sidelined for most of 2025 as mentioned. These injuries could be a cause for concern for teams interested in taking on the quarterback moving forward.

Steelers Need To Trust In Their Youth

Pittsburgh has taken the veteran quarterback route multiple times over the past few years. Since the legendary Ben Roethlisberger's retirement, the Steelers have tried to use veterans at the position. Players like Mitch Trubisky, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, and Rodgers have taken the helm since then. The Steelers attempted to start a young guy in Kenny Pickett, but that experiment didn't work. Since then, the Steelers have not attempted to give any youth an opportunity. 

The Steelers cannot be afraid to trust their youth, as there may be a hidden gem waiting for them on their roster with Will Howard. Pittsburgh should give him a chance, just like it did with its future Hall of Famer in Roethlisberger. Even if Howard or potentially a draft pick doesn't work out, the opportunity to be at the top of the draft next year is intriguing. Signing a player like Murray doesn't help the Steelers' future if he doesn't make an immediate impact. It often takes trusting a young quarterback and setting them up to succeed to reach the threshold the Steelers are after. They cannot afford another one-year rental if they want to get better. 

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