Gardner Minshew, Cardinals Reportedly Agree to NFL Free-Agent Contract After Kyler Murray Release

The Arizona Cardinals are bringing in another quarterback after informing Kyler Murray he will be released ahead of the 2026 season.

Former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Gardner Minshew II has agreed to a one-year, $8 million deal with the Cardinals on the first day of free agency negotiations, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported.

The deal can't become official until the 2026 league year begins Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET.

The Cardinals are now set to have Minshew and Jacoby Brissett, alongside 2024 undrafted free agent Kedon Slovis, under contract following Murray's release.

Minshew joins the Cardinals after seeing limited playing time during the 2025 season as a backup to Patrick Mahomes.

He was originally tabbed to take over as the Chiefs' starter after Mahomes suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Week 15, although he suffered a season-ending knee injury of his own in Week 16.

The Chiefs were reportedly initially concerned Minshew's injury also involved a torn ACL, although ESPN's Adam Schefter later described the injury as "a bone bruise that did not require any surgery."

Minshew last saw significant playing time during the 2024 season, when he and Aidan O'Connell both saw stints as QB1 for the Las Vegas Raiders. That season, Minshew led the Raiders to a 2-7 record in nine starts while throwing for 2,013 yards with nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Whether he ultimately gets the chance to compete for his next starting job with the Cardinals could depend on the status of Brissett, who took over as the Cardinals' starter amid Murray's inconsistent play and injury struggles in 2025.

The Cardinals finished the season with a 1-11 record in Brissett's 12 starts. He still overall found more success than Murray while finishing the season having completed 64.9 percent of his passes for 3,366 yards with 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones previously reported that the Cardinals might consider trading Brissett, and that they "could be willing" to send him out in exchange for "a decent Day 3 pick."

Jones additionally connected the Cardinals with Malik Willis, who has since signed with the Miami Dolphins, as well as Jimmy Garoppolo, who has also received interest from the Los Angeles Rams.

The Cardinals also hold seven 2026 draft picks, including the No. 3 and No. 34 selections, which the franchise could potentially use to target a quarterback if in need at the position by the time the draft kicks off on April 23 in Pittsburgh.