This 1 Detail Makes Kyler Murray Hard to Ignore
The Minnesota Vikings are in the market for a new quarterback after a disappointing 2025 campaign. There are no superstars available, but the Vikings can still choose between several capable veterans.
One option stands out for a simple reason, as the Arizona Cardinals reportedly plan to release Kyler Murray next week. With a new head coach in town, they want to start a new era rather than moving forward with their 1st overall pick from 2019.
The Vikings should consider themselves lucky that those two things collide in the same offseason. As Murray is still on Arizona’s payroll, whether they release him or not, the Vikings can snag him on a cheap contract.
Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap explained, “Murray’s guarantee is subject to offsets so it is likely that he will sign a contract for the veteran’s minimum and try to compete for a job. There are some ways to sneak money into the contract and avoid offsets but that would require a multi-year deal and he has more to gain by playing well this year and becoming a free agent again in 2027. Any money earned in 2026 will be credited to the Cardinals’ salary cap in 2027.”
Murray is owed $36.8 million in 2026. Unless he can find a team that’s paying him more than that, he’ll make that salary regardless of his contract with the next employer. Any money on the new deal will be subtracted from that sum.
That’s why he’s expected to sign a veteran minimum deal to save his new franchise as much money as possible. In his case, with seven seasons under his belt, Murray’s minimum deal is worth $1.3 million.
That salary negates concerns about size, scheme fit, durability, or even the infamous ‘Call of Duty’ narrative.
Murray, once a 1st overall pick, has the mobility every coach loves to work with and he has the arm talent to make an offense go. In seven seasons, Murray has started 87 games, completing 67.1% of his passes for 20,460 yards, 121 touchdowns and 60 interceptions. His athleticism has helped him to another 3,193 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns on the ground.
In recent years, injuries have slowed him down. A torn ACL during the 2022 season cost him the remainder of that season and the first half of 2023. That’s when Joshua Dobbs started in his place before the Vikings traded for him and unleashed the Passtronaut.
Murray then played a full season in 2024, scoring 26 total touchdowns en route to an 8-9 season. Last year, a foot injury cost him all but five games. Later in the year, the Cardinals opted against reactivating him, as they were in the midst of a lost season.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert noted, “Minnesota is not necessarily looking to supplant McCarthy as a starter, but it also hasn’t ruled out adding a newcomer who could walk into the building as an unquestioned starter. That puts Murray at — or near — the top of the Vikings’ list. He will almost certainly have interest, knowing how his career would be impacted even by just one season of playing with receiver Justin Jefferson and under coach Kevin O’Connell.”
Veterans have fared well in Kevin O’Connell’s offense and anticipating Murray to have a career revival along the lines of Sam Darnold isn’t too far-fetched.
“The question,” Seifert continued, “is whether the Vikings are truly ready to send McCarthy back to the bench after only 10 starts since they made him the No. 10 pick of the 2024 draft. As O’Connell enters his fifth season with the team, none of which has included a playoff win, it has to be a consideration.”
Once Murray becomes available, the financial aspect alone will make him one of the most intriguing quarterback options of the offseason. A former No. 1 overall pick with proven production rarely becomes available at such a low cost. For a Vikings team searching for stability while still developing J.J. McCarthy, that combination could prove difficult to ignore.
Murray, 28, should be considered a strong option for Minnesota’s QB opening.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.