The Arizona Cardinals released Kyler Murray after seven turbulent seasons, ending a relationship that began when the franchise selected the Oklahoma product with the first overall pick in 2019. The move came despite Murray having $36.8 million in guaranteed money remaining on his 2022 extension. Arizona will pay that amount in full, apart from whatever Murray earns from his new team, the Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings wasted no time and signed Murray to a one-year, $1.3 million deal on March 12, setting up a quarterback competition with 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy.
Kyler Murray Can Save His NFL Career With the Vikings
For Murray, the decision was simple as he now has a chance to redeem his career with the same organization that rehabilitated Sam Darnold, who went 14-3 with Minnesota in 2024 before winning Super Bowl 60 with Seattle in 2025.
Murray chose Minnesota instead of waiting for other opportunities because the Vikings offered what he needed most: a proven quarterback whisperer in Kevin O’Connell and an immediate path to starting.
During a segment on PFSN’s “Football Debate Club,” analyst Jacob Infante crowned Murray’s move to the Vikings as the best move of the offseason.
“As much as I hate to say it as a Bears guy, I’m going to say Kyler Murray to the Vikings,” Jacob Infante said when asked about the best move of the NFL offseason thus far. “I mean, I look at it like Minnesota went 9-8 last season with terrible quarterback play. J.J. McCarthy finished 37th in the NFL in PFSN’s QB Impact scoring.”
“Kyler, on a smaller sample size, finished 21st, and he graded 11th in 2024, so I think if he can stay healthy, with Kyler throwing to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson, I think that’s going to boost both Kyler and Minnesota’s offense,” Infante added. “And they’re only paying him $1.3 million this year, too. They upgraded at quarterback for super cheap.”
Murray has never had a supporting cast like the one he will have in Minnesota. Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson will help the 28-year-old quarterback to run O’Connell’s offense efficiently.
For a dual-threat quarterback like Murray, who averaged 235.2 passing yards and 36.7 rushing yards per game across seven years in Arizona, these weapons can maximize both facets of his skill set.
According to PFSN’s Defense Impact Metric, Minnesota ranked fourth in the league last season and is expected to maintain that level in 2026 under defensive coordinator Brian Flores. As a result, the quarterback of the team just has to play above-average football for the Vikings to be a contender.
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If Murray stays healthy and plays as he did in 2021, when he posted a 69.2 completion percentage and led Arizona to an 11-6 record, Minnesota has a path back to the playoffs in the loaded NFC North. By being productive with the Vikings, Murray could position himself for a lucrative free agency payday.
Even if Murray struggles or gets hurt, Minnesota will have McCarthy available, and the Vikings can turn to the 23-year-old without having sunk significant resources into their quarterback room.
