Kyler Murray signs 1-year deal with Vikings

[stevenash]

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.

[stevenash]

Win-win if you ask me.
It's a perfect landing spot for Murray, and the Vikings get JJ-Mac insurance for short money.

I still think Murray would have made a better MLB outfielder than an NFL QB.
I watched his senior year in Oklahoma, where he hit for power, average, and was a roadrunner who played stellar defense.

He said he prefers football over baseball.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Win-win if you ask me.
It's a perfect landing spot for Murray, and the Vikings get JJ-Mac insurance for short money.

I still think Murray would have made a better MLB outfielder than an NFL QB.
I watched his senior year in Oklahoma, where he hit for power, average, and was a roadrunner who played stellar defense.

He said he prefers football over baseball.

*Don't like it. McCarthy hasn't had the success yet. But he's tough.

O'Connell will find out that he hates Murray within 48 hours. Murray is the kind of guy that you don't want to give $$ to. When he gets $$, he stops working and think about how to spend it.

[lonegambler23]

happy for mini man

[HAPPY BOY]

stay away from midget QB's.....advice from a DOLPHINS fan

[Ian]

IMO he's the best option available for the Vikings. He's still in his prime and he's not that many years removed from his big seasons early in his career. A change of scenery is probably the best thing for him at this point.

[JAKEPEAVY21]

IMO he's the best option available for the Vikings. He's still in his prime and he's not that many years removed from his big seasons early in his career. A change of scenery is probably the best thing for him at this point.

Agreed and it was also one of the best options for Murray with O'Connell. If his career can be salvaged the Vikings are one of the best options with great coaching and a pretty good roster.

[pavyracer]

Tua signed for Falcons for basically free (minimum). Dolphins are paying his salary. How much are Vikings paying of Murray's contract? Looks like the same deal (minimum).

[stevenash]

Source: Spotrac

Kyler Murray signed a 1 year, $1,300,000 contract with the Minnesota Vikings, including an average annual salary of $1,300,000. In 2026, Murray will earn a base salary of $1,300,000, while carrying a cap hit of $1,300,000.


Kyler Murray | NFL Contracts & Salaries | Spotrac.com

Quarterback Contracts

[semibluff]

Murray playing for $1.3M doesn't make sense for a QB who has already earned $207M and who has missed 27 regular season games out of the last 68. In the 41 games he did play he was 16-25. He could earn more doing something else and not get hurt in the process.

Tagovailoa is trying something similar, but he could end up being cut before September if the stories are true about him having arthritis in his hip.

[stevenash]

Tagovailoa is trying something similar, but he could end up being cut before September if the stories are true about him having arthritis in his hip.

I have arthritis of the left hip myself. I took a lot of hits behind the plate when I used to play, causing joint damage.

Plus, the squatting and standing 1000x a game, every game, just impacted matters.
That pain is very real.

I'm the furthest thing from a medical expert, hardly, but I bet Tua's joint damage (arthritis) is due to some wicked hits from beefy defensive linemen. I know he's been concussed a few times too many, also.

I feel Tua's pain; all catchers feel QBs ' pain.
Fosse, Buster Posey, Jorge Posada, Steve Yeager.

Speaking of Yeager, the play he gets run over here, that throw was from Joe Ferguson
(who was, wait for it..) a converted catcher turned outfielder.

[lonegambler23]

are they going to make sure minime has a stool to stand on when he goes to the podium first time for vikes?

[Headsterx]

Vikings are spiraling out of control after letting go of Darnold.