One day after he was released by the Arizona Cardinals, quarterback Kyler Murray has signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings.
Arizona selected Murray first in the 2019 NFL Draft, and he earned Rookie of the Year honors that season, but he largely underwhelmed beyond that.
Murray was ranked No. 40 on The Athletic’s list of the top 150 free agents of 2026. He was the third-best quarterback available.
Murray, 28, went 38-48-1 as the Cardinals’ starter. He made back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2020 and 2021, and in 2024, he surpassed 3,000 passing yards for the fourth time. He appeared in just one playoff game, though, a wild-card loss to the Los Angeles Rams in 2021.
Last season, Murray played in only five games because of a foot injury. He finished the season on the injured reserve, and speculation about his future in Arizona spiked. Murray went 2-3 in those appearances and tallied 962 passing yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions.
How he fits
The Vikings wanted an experienced, productive and talented former starting quarterback. They wanted to find a quarterback who could push 23-year-old J.J. McCarthy to the maximum. Murray checks all of those boxes.
The Vikings recognized his talent and knew they could acquire Murray and pay him the veteran minimum of $1.3 million for the 2026 season.
Murray is also a player with untapped potential. The Vikings believe he will arrive motivated — and that their culture and high standards will provide him a platform to raise his ceiling.
2026 roster impact
It’s impossible not to consider Murray’s impact on McCarthy. The team wanted the No. 10 pick in the 2024 draft to become its franchise quarterback, but McCarthy’s first couple of seasons have been rocky. He tore his meniscus during his first training camp. This past season, he missed time with hand injuries, a high ankle sprain and a concussion, and he only played 10 games. Despite his struggles on the field, we have seen hints of high-end traits.
The Vikings, though, could not afford to proceed into 2026 without high-end insurance. They hope the presence of a new quarterback will catalyze McCarthy’s development.
Can Murray and McCarthy co-exist? How will McCarthy develop if he’s not taking all of the first-team reps? These are questions executives, coaches and scouts around the NFL have asked. They don’t have easy answers.
