The former Arizona Cardinals signal caller moves to have one of the better supporting casts of his career with the Minnesota Vikings.
There has been some serious quarterback movement over the NFL free agency period, and that includes the Minnesota Vikings elevating their quarterback room. The team added former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray on a one-year deal, as they confirmed Thursday. The Vikings will pay $1.3 million of Murray’s $36.8 million salary for the 2026 season, according to ESPN. The Cardinals will pay the rest after releasing the signal caller from the team on Wednesday. It’s a great chance for Murray to revive his NFL career and for Minnesota, it gives them an immediate better situation than they were dealing with throughout the 2025 season, one that was the ultimate demise of their season hopes.
But Murray didn’t lock himself up long term, as reportedly, the new deal precludes the Vikings from applying the franchise or transition tag to Murray next season, allowing him to walk in free agency should he want to. Murray will join a cast that is arguably the most talented he’ll have been around since his career began in 2019 when Arizona drafted him No. 1 overall in the draft. His skill players now include a formidable trio of tight end T.J. Hockenson and receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, and he’ll be coached by playcaller Kevin O'Connell. For Murray, it’s exciting and a return to his roots, as he grew up a Vikings fan.
Here is the full story from Vikings Roundtable writer Joey Hickey on the major add and how it changes Minnesota’s quarterback situation next season.
O’Connell wanted to find competition for starter J.J. McCarthy, their No. 10 pick in the 2024 draft. O’Connell, to this point, refused to name him the starter on Thursday, noting that “it’s March.” McCarthy finished with a 35.6 QBR in 10 starts last season, while Murray boasts a career 153 touchdowns and two Pro Bowl nods. It'll be an intruiging quarterback competition to watch.