Kyler Murray’s Future: Could the Vikings Be His Next Chapter?
GLENDALE - As the NFL offseason starts to heat up, so does the conversation around Kyler Murray’s future. The Arizona Cardinals quarterback is drawing interest from multiple teams, with the New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Minnesota Vikings reportedly in the mix. While no trade can be finalized until the new league year begins on March 11, there’s a key deadline looming: March 15, when Murray’s contract becomes guaranteed for the upcoming season.
That gives Arizona a narrow window to make a move-and the market is already starting to take shape.
Vikings Emerge as a Potential Landing Spot
Among the three teams linked to Murray, the Minnesota Vikings may have the inside track. According to reports, the 28-year-old quarterback is open to the idea of landing in Minnesota. And when you take a closer look at the Vikings' quarterback situation, it’s not hard to see why both sides might see this as a fit.
The Vikings have been searching for long-term stability under center ever since parting ways with Kirk Cousins. They took a swing by drafting J.J.
McCarthy, hoping to groom him into the next franchise guy. But that plan took a detour when Sam Darnold, yes that Sam Darnold, stepped in and delivered a surprisingly strong 2024 season.
Darnold led Minnesota to a 13-4 record and helped the team punch a ticket to the postseason, even if the playoff run was short-lived.
Still, it was a comeback story few saw coming. Darnold’s performance looked like it might earn him a long-term deal in Minnesota-until the front office made a different call.
The Fallout in Minnesota
Former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah opted not to re-sign Darnold, who instead took his talents to the Seattle Seahawks. That decision proved costly.
Adofo-Mensah was soon out of a job, and McCarthy, not quite ready for the spotlight, was thrust into the starting role. The result?
A tough season that exposed just how fragile the Vikings’ quarterback situation really is.
Despite the turbulence, head coach Kevin O’Connell remains one of the most respected offensive minds in the league. But even the best play-callers need a reliable quarterback to execute the vision. That’s where Murray could come in.
Why Murray and Minnesota Make Sense
Kyler Murray, now a seven-year NFL veteran, still has the raw tools that made him a No. 1 overall pick. He’s a dynamic athlete with a live arm, elite mobility, and the ability to make plays off-script-traits that could thrive in O’Connell’s system. What he’s lacked in Arizona is consistency, stability, and, frankly, the right environment to maximize his potential.
Minnesota could offer a reset. A new coaching voice, a new scheme, and a roster that’s not in full rebuild mode. For a quarterback looking to reclaim his status among the league’s best, it’s an intriguing opportunity.
And for the Vikings? Murray represents a chance to stabilize the most important position in football with a player who, under the right circumstances, can be a game-changer.
What This Means for Arizona
For the Cardinals, the next month is critical. With Murray’s contract guarantee date fast approaching, the front office has to decide whether to move forward with their franchise quarterback-or move on. If they do trade him, it’ll mark a major turning point for a franchise that’s been stuck in neutral.
Arizona has the leverage of knowing there’s interest. But they’re also on the clock. The decision they make in the coming weeks won’t just shape their 2026 season-it could define the next several years of Cardinals football.
The pieces are in motion. Now it’s just a matter of who makes the next move.