Cardinals Miss on Big Name Free Agent QB

The Arizona Cardinals again couldn't land a prominent free agent quarterback.

After missing out on the likes of Malik Willis and Jimmy Garoppolo, the Cardinals showed interest in free agent passer Kirk Cousins — with no success.

According to multiple insiders, Cousins is signing with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Raiders HC Klint Kubiak coached Kirk Cousins for three seasons in Minnesota. Now they reunite in Las Vegas. https://t.co/YaewoXmQUH pic.twitter.com/m2q2sGH1Rl
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 2, 2026

The Cardinals, already with Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew on the roster, would have added a third and more expensive quarterback to a roster that isn't quite ready to compete for a playoff spot in 2026.

Sinking money into Cousins with other positions yet to be filled simply wasn't winning business. Arizona, financially, was better off rolling with Brissett/Minshew and maybe a drafted quarterback.

In a vacuum, Cousins did make sense in Arizona. His time under Kyle Shanahan made him an obvious fit for Mike LaFleur, who took over as the Cardinals' head coach and is a Shanahan disciple. From a talent perspective Cousins would have been the clear starter in Arizona.

Yet from a team-building perspective, the move didn't make much sense. Was Cousins going to will Arizona to a playoff berth in 2026? Very likely not. Is he a guy to build around for the future? The answer is also no.

If the Cardinals' timeline was different where they absolutely needed a playoff push in 2026 before massive regime changes were made, that could be conceivable. If Arizona was only a quarterback away from competing, that would also make sense.

Yet the Cardinals fit neither of the two aforementioned scenarios.

Rather, Arizona is looking to build from the ground up in LaFleur's first season at the helm.

"Let's call it what it is: The quarterback position is the most important position in all of sports," he told reporters at the NFL owner's meetings.

"We know that. So there were lengthy conversations in so many different aspects of it, and there will continue to be until we figure out how we have the most perfect room possible. I like where we're at right now but like we said, if there's a guy to add, we're going to add [him]."

That could come via the draft, where Ty Simpson seems to be a strong possibility for Arizona. The Cardinals could also conceivably roll with Brissett/Minshew through 2026, where their contracts will expire after the final game.

Cousins was a fine fit in theory, but when evaluating the Cardinals' current state, it's best they didn't pursue him.