CBS Sports NFL analysts weigh in on Arizona Cardinals' Kyler Murray vs. Caleb Williams

Could the Arizona Cardinals really decide to move on from Kyler Murray as their starting quarterback after this season should they end up with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft to select a new franchise QB in USC’s Caleb Williams?

Oddsmakers project the Cardinals will finish with the worst record in the league and in addition owning their own first-round pick next year, they also have the Texans’ first-rounder following a draft day trade earlier this year.

That could easily set up Arizona with an excellent chance to land Williams, a junior who is coming off a record-shattering sophomore season that helped him win the Heisman Trophy.

“Well, just being a fan and looking at TV every day and reading the papers, boy, it’s hard to make a case that they’re not trying to get to a certain situation where they could get the quarterback (Williams),” former Giants quarterback Phil Simms, a longtime NFL analyst, told The Republic during a CBS Sports conference call Tuesday with NFL reporters.

“It’s a dangerous business to try and be in, but I think next year it’s more than just Caleb Williams. It’s about quarterbacks. I think there’s going to be a very good crew coming out. There’s going to be multiple first-round guys there, so if they don’t get the guy, Caleb Williams, I think some of these other quarterbacks in college are very good and they can be franchise quarterbacks.”

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Fellow CBS Sports analysts Boomer Esiason, Bill Cowher and J.J. Watt, the longtime defensive end who retired after spending the past two seasons with the Cardinals, also chimed in on the Williams vs. Murray debate.

Esiason, who spent 14 seasons in the NFL as a quarterback, including one year with the Cardinals back in 1996, mentioned the word “tanking” as it relates to what Arizona might be doing to position itself to draft Williams, should he declare himself eligible for the draft after this season.

“Most of the guys on this panel probably believe that Caleb Williams will be the No.1 pick without any question that he is going to be that pick and he’s going to be a game changer,” Esiason said. “It’s one of the reasons why he went to USC with (coach) Lincoln Riley and has had success there.

“He’ll probably win his second Heisman this year and I would think with the Cardinals, doing what they’re doing at their quarterback position – J.J. would know better than I do how good that team is internally – but I would just say from where I sit right now it’s probably in terms of the quarterback room, the 32nd (best) room in the NFL and that leads me to be believe that this is a start-over.”

Cowher, who coached the Steelers to two Super Bowl championships, says he can see Williams ending up with the Cardinals, and Arizona ultimately brokering a deal to trade Murray elsewhere.

“I’ll just say this: We better keep an eye on this because I think that’s going to be a distinct possibility,” he said. “You look at Week 16, 17 and 18 (this year) and we all saw what Joe Burrow did to the Cincinnati Bengals. He turned around that franchise, he’s brought them into the spotlight and don’t think other owners aren’t looking at that.

“I think Caleb Williams is a generations player. I think he’s that type of guy. And I do believe that teams are going to sit there in Weeks 16, 17 and 18 and say, ‘If I have a chance to get a Caleb Williams, you know what, I’ll sacrifice this year to get to the next future (QB) of this franchise.’ ”

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Watt, the former three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, said he wouldn’t be surprised if the Cardinals draft Williams or deal the first overall pick, should they get it, for a bounty of other picks in 2024 and beyond.

“It can certainly be beneficial either way whatever they might be doing in their own heads,” Watt said, adding, “It’s tough for me having just left these guys and having so many friendships on the team, but seeing the realities of the situation right know that (coach) Jonathan Gannon stepped into and some of the moves they’ve made, I don’t think there’s any denying that they’re going to have a tough go of it, especially early on.

“Kyler’s for sure out the first four games on PUP (the Physically Unable to Perform list) and who knows how much longer as his rehab continues, so it’s going to be a tough go. I do think, like some of these guys are saying, the NFL is 100% about the quarterback position and a player like Caleb Williams at the No. 1 overall pick is extremely valuable whether he’s on your team or you’re trading out of that No.1 spot and the things you can get for that in today’s world are so high.

“… A rookie quarterback that can play at the highest level on that contract can change an entire organization’s future forever.”

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Cardinals could move on from Kyler Murray for Caleb Williams