Jets receive troubling warning about potential quarterback target

As has been the case for roughly the last 15 years, the New York Jets will be searching for a new quarterback this offseason.

The Jets will leave no stone unturned throughout the process, examining every option across the trade market, free agency, and, of course, the 2026 NFL Draft. But even if they take a swing on a rookie, they'll certainly need a veteran to at least start the season, or potentially all 17 games if the draftee isn't ready to see the field.

Among the veteran options swirling around the NFL right now are San Francisco 49ers' Mac Jones, Atlanta Falcons' Kirk Cousins, and either of the Arizona Cardinals' quarterbacks, Kyler Murray and Jacoby Brissett.

Despite the many avenues open to the Jets, a Cardinals player told ESPN's Rich Cimini that they shouldn't go after Murray specifically, and warned them to stay away from the former No. 1 overall pick.

Anonymous Cardinals player urges Jets to stay away from Kyler Murray

On Cimini's podcast Flight Deck, he revealed a conversation he had with a Cardinals player regarding the Jets' pursuit of Murray as a quarterback option this offseason.

"I was talking to someone, one of his former teammates, the other day, and he basically warned off the Jets about [him]. I said, 'You know the Jets might be going after Kyler in a month or two.' He goes, 'No, no, no, the Jets don't want to do that. You don't want Kyler Murray as your quarterback."

Rich Cimini

It's quite a large red flag when your own teammate can't endorse you as a quarterback solution for another team, but that's just been the case with Murray since entering the league.

It's frustrating because the former Heisman Trophy winner genuinely has all the physical talent you could want in a quarterback. He has a huge arm and is as athletic as it gets, but for whatever reason, he hasn't been able to put it all together mentally in his seven years in the NFL.

Of course, there are Murray's durability concerns as well. Just this past season, he appeared in only five games before getting injured (or quietly benched). Throughout his career, the former No. 1 overall pick has appeared in 87 of 117 possible games.

If the Jets are looking to make a splash with a big name, sure, Murray is likely the guy they're looking for. But given the concerns around his character and love for football, he doesn't seem like the player Aaron Glenn and Frank Reich would stake their futures on.