Could the Arizona Cardinals sign a former number one pick to fill in for Kyler Murray?

The Arizona Cardinals must sign a quarterback this offseason to perhaps start for an extended time in place of Kyler Murray.

So far, names like Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew have been listed as possible stand-ins for former number one pick Kyler Murray if the latter isn’t ready to go by Week One. Another name, Marcus Mariota, boasts a similar playing style to Murray, and he too could be a viable option. 

One quarterback that few have talked about potentially going to the Arizona Cardinals is former number one overall pick Baker Mayfield. Ironically enough, Mayfield is a former teammate of Murray’s, as the two both played quarterback at the University of Oklahoma under then-head coach Lincoln Riley. 

While Mayfield hasn’t played well recently, he did lead the Cleveland Browns to a playoff berth in 2020. He can also produce well when given adequate protection in front of him, and a strong running game behind him. 

Arizona Cardinals could end up signing Baker Mayfield

Mayfield is also familiar with offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. Who coached the tight ends during the quarterback’s time with the Cleveland Browns. 

His play, while not similar to Murray’s dual-threat approach, does possess some similarities. For one, Mayfield is at his best when he can extend plays by rolling out, often via play-action. He can also methodically drive his offense downfield with short and intermediate passes, as evidenced by his 7.2 career yards per pass attempt. 

The downside is that Mayfield cannot carry a team on his shoulders. He wouldn’t be a viable option here if the Cardinals aren’t active in free agency. However, if the Cards build their offensive line and add to their running game, chances are, they will have enough in the desert for a quarterback of Mayfield’s caliber to succeed. 

Overall, he would be worth going after if the likes of Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew, and Marcus Mariota go elsewhere. General manager Monti Ossenfort should at least put the quarterback on his radar. 

Source: Jacoby Brissett atop free-agent QB options Cardinals must consider by Tyler Drake, ArizonaSports.com

(Statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference)