Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is one of the most polarizing players in the NFL. Some would argue that he’s one of the top ten quarterbacks in the league, while others say Arizona should move on from him at the earliest opportunity. He’s one of the highest-paid passers in football, but he has just one playoff appearance to show for it.
One expert is clearly out on Murray, ranking him among the worst quarterbacks in the league.
Analyst ranks Kyler Murray in bottom class of quarterbacks
CBS Sports writer Cody Benjamin recently ranked all 32 starting NFL quarterbacks. He put Kyler Murray 23rd.
The number alone is shocking, but it gets worse when you consider the other passers placed around Murray. He’s three spots below J.J. McCarthy, who has never played a down in the NFL. He’s one spot below Sam Darnold, who has had one remotely good season in which he got blown out in the playoffs. And he’s only one spot ahead of Justin Fields, who couldn’t even keep a starting job last season.
It’s perfectly fine to point out that Kyler Murray has been inconsistent throughout his NFL Career. He often falls flat in the back half of the season. As Cody Benjamin puts it, “Murray's yet to prove he can be truly steady through the air.”
But this is a two-time Pro-Bowler and former Offensive Rookie of the Year, and we’re ranking him around quarterbacks who can barely maintain a starting spot. It’s ridiculous.
That being said, it’s fair to criticize Kyler Murray. The former number one pick should have at least one playoff win to his name after seven seasons. While his highlight reel is as exciting as any, he has failed to string enough quality showings together to truly lift this team.
If Murray can’t produce in 2025, with a talented receiving group and a much-improved defense, it may be time to discuss different options at quarterback. He won’t continue to be given time to turn it around. This league is about winning games, and when teams fail to accomplish that, the quarterback is often the first to go.
With a strong and consistent 2025 season, Kyler Murray can prove that he is the franchise quarterback that the Arizona Cardinals expect him to be.