Where Each Cardinals Starting QB Ranked in 2023
ARIZONA -- The Arizona Cardinals saw the return of starting quarterback Kyler Murray in the second half of the 2023 season after he successfully recovered from ACL surgery.
The Cardinals know Murray will be in their plans for 2024, partly thanks to the performance of two other quarterbacks prior to his return.
Arizona had three starters at the position last season - here's where NFL.com ranked them out of all 66 quarterbacks in 2023:
Kyler Murray - No. 23
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Nick Shook: "Boy, any questions being asked about Murray's future in the wake of a 2022 ACL tear sure seem foolish in hindsight. His return to the field in Week 10 came at a perfect time; with a 1-8 record, the Cardinals knew they were destined for a poor finish, but they still had reason to give maximum effort in order to vet their star quarterback.
"Murray responded positively, quickly proving his value by elevating an offense that lacked juice in his absence. He even led the Cardinals to a couple of shocking upset wins in the state of Pennsylvania. Murray fit well with rookie coach Jonathan Gannon and his staff, and he should feel comfortable about his future with the Cardinals entering 2024."
Player above: Derek Carr
Player below: Gardner Minshew
Joshua Dobbs - No. 31
Shook: "2023 was a truly wild year for Dobbs, a career backup who changed teams two weeks before the start of the season, ascended to the starting role in Arizona, and managed to keep the Cardinals competitive while awaiting Kyler Murray's return. As if that wasn't a significant enough hurdle, another was placed directly in his path when Arizona traded him to Minnesota, where Dobbs was thrust into a game less than a week after being dealt -- and promptly led the Vikings to a win.
"Eventually, the magic ran out, the wheels fell off, and Dobbs descended to the bottom of the depth chart for an increasingly desperate Vikings squad. But we'll always remember how Dobbs captivated a football-loving nation for a couple of months, earned a nickname (the Passtronaut), and bought himself another opportunity to stick with a team in 2024."
Player above: Sam Howell
Player below: Tyrod Taylor
Clayton Tune - No. 65
Shook: "With one week left before Kyler Murray’s return, the Cardinals decided it was time to give Tune a spin. Unfortunately for the rookie, his debut came against the NFL’s No. 1 defense in Cleveland, which feasted on his inexperience. Tune was clearly overmatched, completing 11 of 20 passes and converting just one of 12 third-down attempts. The Cardinals never had a chance with Tune in the lineup, which wasn’t an indictment of him as much as it was a bad matchup. He’s a project."
Player above: Brett Rypien
Player below: Aaron Rodgers
