At Combine, Ossenfort reiterates same team stance on Kyler Murray

Darren Urban

INDIANAPOLIS Monti Ossenfort knew the questions were coming, so before he even heard one Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine, the Cardinals general manager spoke about his blurry quarterback situation and, by extension, the future of Kyler Murray.

"I know for a lot of you at the top of your mind is our quarterback situation so here's what I would say," Ossenfort said. "All options are on the table for us. We've got Kyler, Jacoby (Brissett), Kedon (Slovis) all under contract.

"As it pertains to that position, as it pertains to every position on our team, we will look at every avenue to improve. We will continue our process with that."

The answers were not coming on the QB. Not yet. Both Ossenfort and coach Mike LaFleur continue to say only that the conversations continue. Even with a mid-March deadline coming quickly contractually to guarantee Murray another $20 million for 2027, Ossenfort just said discussions about such contractual triggers go on daily, just as they do for all the players with similar contractual language.

LaFleur was asked if he would be open to playing a rookie quarterback.

"I am open and embracing playing the best quarterback possible for the Arizona Cardinals," LaFleur said.

The Cardinals picking at 3 would in most years give them an opportunity to draft a quarterback high. Not this year, not with this class. Fernando Mendoza will go first overall to the Raiders. After that? The Athletic's draft guru Dane Brugler could see Alabama's Ty Simpson being drafted anywhere from 13 to 53. NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah sees Simpson as a "great fit" for the Cardinals but at No. 34 and their second-round pick, not in the first round.

And there are a lot of picks that happen before then.

In Jeremiah's eyes, the next group would be LSU's Garrett Nussmeier, Penn State's Drew Allar and Miami's Carson Beck. But the earliest those players project would be the third round, if not later.

"I am open for taking the best player at our pick, no matter the position," Ossenfort said. "There are a lot of quarterbacks in this draft. We will continue to evaluate them."

If the Cardinals don't stay with an incumbent, whether it is Murray or Brissett, they could also veer into the free-agent market. Kirk Cousins will be available, it was announced Tuesday. Aaron Rodgers, who has connections with LaFleur's brother Matt and Cardinals offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett from his time in Green Bay, seems unlikely with Brissett in place.

The latest speculation around the Combine has been the Cardinals potentially making a play for Packers QB Mailk Willis, who will be a free agent. Not only can Mike LaFleur get intel about Willis from his brother, but Ossenfort was in Tennessee when Willis was drafted by the Titans.

"I don't really want to get into evaluations of specific players," Ossenfort said. "Malik did a great job when he went in there for Green Bay this year. I was with Malik for a short time in Tennessee, had a great college career. He's one of the quarterbacks that is available.

"We will evaluate all our options and we will be prepared to do what is best for the team."

LaFleur said he has been in contact with Murray, but declined to get into specifics. Ossenfort said he has long had good dialogue with Murray.

"(The season) wasn't up to what Kyler wanted," Ossenfort said. "It wasn't up to what any of us wanted as a season as a whole. When you have the kind of year we had, there is a lot of room for improvement. We have to find a way to do that, not only at that position but all positions.

"Quarterback is obviously an important position on the team but he needs 10 other guys around him."