Kyler Murray Vikings: Two-Time Pro Bowl QB Signs With Minnesota for League Minimum, Will Compete With J.J. McCarthy
Kyler Murray is a Minnesota Viking. Less than 24 hours after the Arizona Cardinals officially released the former No. 1 overall pick, Murray signed a one-year deal for the league minimum with the Vikings on Thursday — fulfilling what he described as a childhood dream while launching the most important career reclamation of the 2026 NFL offseason.
Kyler Murray Vikings Signing: Contract Terms and No-Tag Clause
Kyler Murray signed a one-year deal for the league minimum with the Minnesota Vikings. Murray's deal includes a no-tag clause, meaning he will be able to hit free agency next offseason without any restrictions unless he and the Vikings agree to an extension ahead of time.
The Cardinals are on the hook for $35.5 million of Murray's $36.8 million guaranteed salary for the 2026 season. The Vikings pay only the veteran minimum — roughly $1.215 million — making this one of the most team-friendly starting quarterback contracts in the NFL. The no-tag clause signals confidence on Murray's part that he will earn the starting job and rebuild his market value in a single season.
Cardinals Release Kyler Murray After Seven Seasons: What Went Wrong
The Cardinals informed Murray on March 3 they intended to release him at the start of the new league year, ending a partnership that began when Arizona spent the top pick of the 2019 draft on the Oklahoma product. Over seven tumultuous seasons, Murray completed 67.1 percent of his passes for 20,460 yards, a 121-60 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and a 92.2 passer rating while also rushing for 3,193 yards.
Murray played in just five games last season — throwing for 962 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions — before suffering a foot injury. Backup Jacoby Brissett played well in his absence, creating an awkward quarterback controversy. The Cardinals grew frustrated with Murray, and his camp had also hoped for a release.
Kyler Murray Grew Up a Vikings Fan: "Real Tears When Brett Threw That Interception"
Murray met with the media for a brief news conference after the signing broke, revealing he grew up rooting for the Vikings — a fandom that began when he started playing tackle football at age 7. "Genuine, genuine fandom. Ran deep. Vikings gear through and through. A lot of purple in my household," Murray told reporters, adding that he cried real tears when Brett Favre threw the infamous NFC Championship interception.
Murray posted side-by-side photos on social media Thursday evening — one of himself smiling in Vikings apparel and one of himself playing youth football in a Vikings uniform — confirming that the reunion with his childhood team ran deeper than football opportunity alone.
Murray vs. J.J. McCarthy: The Starting QB Battle Is On
Murray joins former first-round pick J.J. McCarthy in the Vikings quarterback room. McCarthy has started only 10 games in two seasons since Minnesota made him the No. 10 pick of the 2024 draft, dealing with four separate injuries including a torn right meniscus that sidelined him for the entire 2024 season.
McCarthy completed just 57.6 percent of his passes with 11 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and a 72.6 passer rating last season. After Minnesota missed the playoffs and fell far short of expectations, the optics worsened when former Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold — whom they watched leave in free agency — lifted a Lombardi Trophy with the Seattle Seahawks.
Murray said he looks forward to coming in, competing, getting to learn the offense, and getting to be with coach Kevin O'Connell, stopping well short of declaring himself the starter while making clear he intends to win the job.
Kevin O'Connell's QB Whisperer Reputation Made Vikings the Perfect Fit
Murray now links up with Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell, a vaunted quarterback developer who previously helped Sam Darnold revive his career before Darnold parlayed that breakout into a Super Bowl championship in Seattle. O'Connell also helped Daniel Jones rebuild confidence during a difficult stretch of his career in Minnesota.
Murray's guaranteed $36.8 million for the 2026 season with the Cardinals paying all but the minimum allows him to focus entirely on the football part, with finances being a non-issue, while the Vikings absorb a high-upside, ultra-low-cost addition at the most important position on the field.
Kyler Murray Career Stats: What the Vikings Are Getting
Murray is one of five players in NFL history — alongside Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Russell Wilson, and Cam Newton — to throw for more than 20,000 yards and rush for more than 3,000 yards in their first seven seasons. He is a two-time Pro Bowler, a Heisman Trophy winner, and the 2019 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Murray, 28, is this year's Russell Wilson — released from a monstrous contract with guaranteed salary remaining so he can sign anywhere for the minimum. While deeply disappointing as a $46 million quarterback, he represents strong value at $1.3 million and ranks 24th among all quarterbacks with 200-plus passes since the start of 2023 by passer rating. Minnesota is betting that O'Connell can unlock the version of Murray last seen in 2024, when he completed 68.8 percent of his passes for 3,851 yards and 21 touchdowns.
