Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
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(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
JJ McCarthy’s status as the starting quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings is in serious peril heading into NFL free agency, but there’s at least one veteran talent he may be able to cross off the list as a threat to his job security.
Matthew Berry of NBC said on Saturday, February 27 from the combine in Indianapolis that the Vikings are not high on McCarthy heading into Year 3. He added that whispers around the city indicate Minnesota isn’t big on the prospect of Kyler Murray replacing McCarthy as QB1.
“I heard that Kyler Murray, not on Minnesota’s radar really,” Berry said. “Wouldn’t be surprised to see him [with] the Jets. That’s one I keep hearing a decent amount, Kyler Murray to the Jets.”
Murray has three years remaining on his $230.5 million contract and is most likely available only via a trade.
Talk at NFL Combine Indicates Vikings Out on JJ McCarthy
J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
GettyMinnesota Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy.
With regards to the players Minnesota wants, Berry named a couple of veterans who continue to pop up in conversations about the Vikings.
“As for Minnesota, I’ve heard a bunch of different things,” Berry continued. “Heard some people say like, ‘They’re kind of interested in seeing about Geno [Smith] if he gets released.’ I’ve heard maybe a reunion with Kirk Cousins.”
“One name that I’ve heard that I know they’re not super interested in, and that’s JJ McCarthy,” Berry added. “They’re gonna continue to coach him up, but I’d be surprised if there is not serious competition for JJ McCarthy next year as the starting quarterback for the Vikings.”
The Atlanta Falcons have already announced their intentions to release Cousins on March 11, which is the first official day of free agency. Smith is also a likely cut candidate for the Las Vegas Raiders, who own the No. 1 pick and are essentially a lock to draft QB Fernando Mendoza in that spot.
Kirk Cousins, Geno Smith Likely Much Cheaper for Vikings Than Kyler Murray
Kirk Cousins quarterback Minnesota Vikings
GettyQuarterback Kirk Cousins, formerly of the Minnesota Vikings.
Both the Falcons and Raiders will be paying Cousins and Smith, respectively, considerable amounts of money not to play for their organizations in 2026. That means both are likely gettable at league-minimum salaries in Minnesota.
Cousins and Smith are both veterans with 10-plus years of NFL service on their resumés, which means their league minimums in 2026 cap out at the max of $1.3 million. That amount is offset against the totals that the Falcons and Raiders will owe the quarterbacks.
Essentially, that means the Vikings would pick up $1.3 million on the tab of whatever the Falcons or the Raiders owe Cousins and Smith. Thus, it’s a small discount for the releasing team, a small payment for Minnesota, and Cousins or Smith make the same amount next season no matter what — the sources of the income simply adjust slightly.
That’s an ideal outcome for the Vikings, who must cut $45.5 million off the salary cap in the coming days just to get out of the red.
The Arizona Cardinals are much more incentivized to look for a trade involving Murray, as cutting him will cost the team between $47.5-$54.7 million in dead money charges this year regardless of timing (pre or post-June 1 designation).
It is still possible Arizona could release Murray, as doing so after June 1 would bring the organization roughly $5 million in cap savings, which would put him in the same boat as Smith and Cousins.
That, in turn, might then interest the Vikings because Murray is much younger and could arguably end up the answer at QB1 in Minnesota for a multiyear stretch.