They may not be on the Cleveland Browns' level of franchise desperation, but the Arizona Cardinals could really use a quarterback to guide this rebuild.
They currently have three players at the position after cutdown day: Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew II, and Carson Beck.
Again, not the Browns' quarterback room. But dangerously close to belonging in that tier.
Cardinals are in obvious need of a quarterback upgrade
One potential path to upgrading the position is waivers. The waiver order is taken from the same order as that year's draft, meaning the Cardinals have the No. 3 priority.
While the Las Vegas Raiders likely don't need a quarterback after winning the Fernando Mendoza sweepstakes, the New York Jets present competition to Arizona, picking just ahead in the waivers.
That said, do the Cardinals really want any of the available quarterback options?
Will Levis is the headliner after the Tennessee Titans somewhat surprisingly move on from their former second-round pick in 2023.
Admittedly, the upside is tantalizing in terms of the arm strength and overall physical tools. Still, this isn't a project that Arizona should have any desire to take on.
Cardinals still shouldn't take on the Will Levis project
For one, there's a reason the rebuilding Titans are moving on from such a steep draft investment.
Levis hasn't translated that upside into actual production, having two rough seasons in Tennessee. He most recently played 12 games in 2024, totaling 2,091 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions during that stretch.
The 2025 campaign was missed in its entirety due to right shoulder surgery, meaning 2024 legitimately may have been Levis' final opportunity at a starting spot in the league.
Not even a patient rebuilding team like the Cardinals should feel compelled to take on what appears to be a multi-year project for someone who's already 27 years of age.
Maybe that would help them tank for a top pick to land their actual quarterback of the future in the 2027 draft class, though the Cardinals won't need much help in that regard as currently constructed.
Besides, they already reworked Jacoby Brissett's deal, paying him closer to a starter's salary to make him that stopgap solution. If the Cardinals were to pivot from their veteran, it would make far more sense to give third-round rookie Carson Beck an extended audition rather than someone like Levis.
Beck's preseason was unfortunately cut short due to a rib injury, but he showed just as much, if not more, upside than Levis in that lone Hall of Fame Game.
The same can be said for any other available quarterbacks besides Levis who were waived, whether that's Nick Mullens (Jaguars), Josh Johnson (Commanders), or Jake Browning (Buccaneers).
Arizona's quarterback room isn't pretty, but at least they have a plan in place to address the position. To bring in another via waivers, whether that's Levis or someone else, only pushes them further from the right path.
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