With the start of the new league year, the Arizona Cardinals moved on from quarterback Kyler Murray, absorbing a significant cap hit and allowing him to enter free agency. Teams can now sign Murray to a minimum contract for 2026, and the talented quarterback is already scheduled to meet with one NFC North team.
Kyler Murray Set To Travel Thursday To Meet With Potential New Team
Once Murray became available, he immediately ranked among the top quarterback options on the market. Even as the Indianapolis Colts negotiated Daniel Jones’s contract, analysts suggested the team should consider Murray instead.
In Arizona, Murray never consistently reached the level the Cardinals envisioned when they selected him No. 1 overall in 2019. He was ranked 21st last season in PFSN’s QB Impact Metric, a range consistent with much of his career. His highest rankings included No. 11 in 2024 and No. 10 in 2021, showing flashes of strong performance.
Those high points are what potential suitors are banking on. One of them, the Minnesota Vikings, is seeking a starting quarterback in 2026. On Thursday, Murray is set to meet with the team, according to Cardinals insider John Gambadoro.
Kyler Murray will visit with the Minnesota Vikings tomorrow. A starting spot is a priority, and Minnesota does offer that and a deal could be done in the next 24 hours. But Murray and his camp are expected to explore several options as a backup in 2026 for teams that could need a…
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) March 12, 2026
A potential deal between the Vikings and Murray makes sense for both sides. Minnesota did not get the production it hoped for from young quarterback J.J. McCarthy last season. While the team may want him to continue developing, relying on him as the starter again is not ideal.
Murray, in head coach Kevin O’Connell’s system alongside Justin Jefferson, could be a strong fit.
Gambadoro also noted that Murray intends to meet with teams seeking a backup option, with the possibility of becoming a starter in 2027. NFL insider Tom Pelissero expanded on that point, reporting that Murray plans to connect with three to five teams that may need a quarterback in two seasons.
Just spoke to Kyler Murray’s agent, Erik Burkhardt, who tells me Murray plans to Zoom tonight and tomorrow with executives from 3-5 teams that potentially have a QB need in 2027 — a chance to reintroduce himself to people he hasn’t seen since the 2019 draft and get a jump start… https://t.co/MXbzXySD2R
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 12, 2026
This strategy is a prudent one for Murray. If a deal with the Vikings does not materialize, the list of quarterback-needy teams for 2026 is limited. Planning ahead for 2027 allows him to position himself with organizations that may need a starter in two years. It also provides the opportunity to learn a system and step in when called upon.
