Well, it didn’t take long, as the worst-kept rumor in the NFL came to fruition. Today, the Vikings inked former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray to a one-year contract. This follows his release by the Cardinals on Wednesday, when speculation about the Vikings’ interest in him went viral.
Quarterback whisperer Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell hopes to work his magic again to get Murray back to an elite level of play. He has had success in the past in revitalizing the careers of Matthew Stafford, Sam Darnold, and Daniel Jones. This also sets up a full-blown quarterback controversy with the young but erratic and injury-prone J.J. McCarthy.
Murray’s History in Arizona
Murray, 28, was the number one overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He went 38-48-1 as the Cardinals’ starting quarterback and made consecutive Pro Bowls in 2020 and 2021. However, he led them to only one playoff appearance in 2021, where they lost to the Los Angeles Rams in a Wild Card matchup. He passed for over 3,000 yards four times while playing for Arizona, the last time being in 2024.
But over the past four seasons, he has been riddled with injuries, missing 27 games, leading Cardinals management and fans to lose confidence in their franchise quarterback. It came to a head at the end of last season when former Arizona coach Jonathan Gannon admitted that even if Murray (who was on injured reserve) was healthy for the last three games of the season, he still would have started Jacoby Brissett at quarterback.
The team attempted to unload their disgruntled quarterback, but to no avail. So, they released Murray outright yesterday, even though it meant eating $36.8 million in dead cap money. This made it even more palatable for the Vikings to step in and acquire the seven-year veteran, as they only have to pay him the veteran minimum of $1.3 million in 2026.
Vikings Quarterback Faceoff
Murray will now battle McCarthy for the starting role running O’Connell’s sophisticated “West Coast Offense.” Whoever earns the starting nod will have a talented group of receivers to throw to, led by superstar Justin Jefferson. Throw in receiver Jordan Addison, tight end T.J. Hockenson, and the recently re-signed versatile running back Aaron Jones, and you have a plethora of nimble targets to throw to.
And defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ haunting defense will limit opponents’ scoring opportunities, giving the Vikings offense ample chances to light up the scoreboard. Both Murray and McCarthy must say goodbye to their injury-prone pasts and prove they are sturdy enough to withstand the rigors of a 17-game NFL season. For Murray, it’s an opportunity to win the Minnesota job outright or, at the very least, put on an impressive audition for another NFL squad.
