Since he was a high schooler, Kyler Murray had the world as his oyster.
Not only was he a highly touted football player, but he was an elite baseball prospect.
In 2018, he was drafted in the first round by the then Oakland Athletics. A year later, the Arizona Cardinals took him first overall in the NFL Draft.
He’s never been a side character. Murray was the story. Be it in baseball or football, teams would go to great lengths to have him play for them.
But that’s changed. The Cardinals are releasing Murray when the new NFL season begins on Monday, and for the first time, possibly in his life, he needs to persuade a team that he can be their starter.
Per ESPN senior writer Jeremy Fowler, there are three teams to keep an eye on with Murray when free agency begins next week.
First, the one that has been most widely reported, the Minnesota Vikings. After turning down Aaron Rodgers last offseason to give rookie J.J. McCarthy a clear runway in Minnesota, the franchise has made it clear that the former Michigan Wolverine is no longer the undisputed starting quarterback in the organization.
The Vikings were at the front of the Sam Darnold renaissance before he went on to win a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks. Could they do the same with Murray?
For the second time, Fowler believes the Atlanta Falcons could be looking at Murray. Like the Vikings, they have a first-round QB from the 2024 NFL Draft in Michael Penix Jr., but the Washington Huskies product has often been injured and hasn’t solidified his status when healthy.
Finally, Fowler suggests the Indianapolis Colts. While they have a one-year contract with Daniel Jones pending no offer sheet from another team, there are questions about his health and whether he’ll be good to go for next season following his torn right Achilles tendon injury that knocked him out of the 2025 campaign.
If things fall apart, it could open the door for Murray to take a short-term contract to prove himself before looking for something bigger in 2027.
2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.