Kyler Murray’s future in Arizona is looking increasingly uncertain-and the league is watching closely. After losing the starting job during the 2025 season, the former No. 1 overall pick finds himself in limbo once again. With a new head coach stepping in and the Cardinals seemingly heading in a different direction, the writing may be on the wall for Murray’s time in the desert.
And if Murray does hit the market, he won’t be short on suitors. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently pointed to the Minnesota Vikings as a potential landing spot, should Murray become available via trade or release.
Speaking on SportsCenter, Fowler emphasized the urgency of the situation: Murray’s contract includes nearly $40 million in guarantees that lock in by mid-March. That puts the Cardinals on the clock.
“This is certainly one to watch,” Fowler said. “He would be one of the top quarterbacks available... and most around the league do expect that to go down. He wants to go to a winner-that’s what he wants.”
That desire to join a contender makes Minnesota a compelling option. The Vikings are coming off a 2025 season where J.J.
McCarthy, their young quarterback, struggled to find his footing. While McCarthy still has upside-he just turned 23 and has only 10 NFL starts under his belt-the Vikings may not be in the mood to wait around and hope he develops into a franchise cornerstone.
Minnesota, valued at $6.25 billion per Forbes, has the resources and ambition to make a bold move. And with GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah now out, the front office may be shifting its approach. ESPN’s Kevin Seifert noted that while Adofo-Mensah was a believer in building around a young quarterback on a rookie deal, his exit signals a possible pivot toward a more aggressive strategy.
“In the big picture, McCarthy is a talented player,” Seifert wrote. “But Adofo-Mensah’s departure is a reminder of the range of outcomes that approach can lead to. If anything, these events increase the chances that the Vikings will take a big swing at finding a veteran quarterback who could start in 2026.”
Enter Kyler Murray. The former Heisman winner and two-time Pro Bowler is still just 28 and has shown flashes of brilliance when healthy.
His dual-threat ability would bring a dynamic element to Minnesota’s offense, especially with weapons like Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison already in place. And while there’s no official word from the Vikings’ front office, reports suggest Murray has interest in making Minneapolis his next stop.
Of course, the Vikings aren’t the only team in the market for a quarterback this offseason. They’ve been linked to a wide range of names-Kirk Cousins, Geno Smith, Mac Jones, Malik Willis, and others. But none of those options offer the same ceiling as Murray when he’s locked in and fully healthy.
The next few weeks will be pivotal. With Murray’s contract guarantees looming, Arizona will need to make a decision soon.
And if they decide to move on, don’t be surprised if the Vikings are one of the first teams on the phone. For a franchise that’s been stuck in quarterback purgatory since the Cousins era began winding down, Kyler Murray could be the reset button they’ve been waiting for.