Former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray during an NFL game.
Kyler Murray released news is now the real NFL story, and the next question is obvious: where does he go next? Arizona told Murray last week he would be released, and reporting tied to Tom Pelissero has since pointed to the Minnesota Vikings as the favorite to sign him once he officially hit the market. ESPN reported on March 3 that the Cardinals informed Murray he would be released, while NFL.com said Minnesota had emerged as the favorite after that move.
The Cardinals owe Kyler Murray $36.8M fully guaranteed this season, so the expectation is he'll sign a one-year minimum deal. If it is indeed in Minnesota, he would compete with J.J. McCarthy for the starting job. https://t.co/NVghg7zD7A
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 11, 2026
That is why this matters today. Murray is not a typical free agent because Arizona still owes him major guaranteed money for 2026, which means his next contract is expected to be cheap for a new team. ESPN reported Murray is due $36.8 million in guarantees from the Cardinals, with offset language likely pushing his next deal toward a one-year veteran-minimum structure.
Tom Pelissero Reports Vikings are the Favorite to Sign Kyler Murray after Cardinals Release
The biggest Kyler Murray Vikings rumor is the one attached to Pelissero’s reporting. NFL.com said the Vikings had emerged as the favorite to sign Murray once he was officially released, a development driven in part by the unusual economics of his situation. Because Arizona remains on the hook for most of Murray’s money, a team like Minnesota could take a relatively low-cost swing on a still-young quarterback with starting upside.
That is the real value-add here. This is not just a rumor built on vague quarterback need. It is a rumor with financial logic behind it, because Murray’s next team would not be paying true franchise-quarterback money to add him. In a free-agency window where veteran quarterbacks can get expensive quickly, that makes the Vikings connection easier to understand.
Kyler Murray Stats
Kyler Murray stats are still part of the intrigue, even if the bigger story right now is his release. ESPN lists his 2025 regular-season line at 962 passing yards, 6 touchdowns, 3 interceptions and a 47.2 QBR. ESPN also lists Murray at 28 years old, which matters because he is younger than many veteran quarterbacks who reach the market in March.
Those numbers do not tell the whole story, but they do frame the debate. Murray is not entering free agency off a dominant season, yet he is also not a typical aging bridge option. That combination is why the Vikings rumor has staying power: teams can talk themselves into both short-term value and longer-term upside.
Across his NFL career, Kyler Murray has been one of the league’s more productive dual-threat quarterbacks when healthy. Through the 2025 season, ESPN lists Murray with 19,849 passing yards, 123 touchdown passes and 56 interceptions, along with 2,875 rushing yards and 39 rushing touchdowns. Those totals help explain why he still draws real intrigue in free agency despite the Cardinals moving on: Murray is not just a former No. 1 overall pick with upside, but a quarterback with established passing production and proven run-game value.
What Happens Next?
The next step is whether the Vikings turn favorite buzz into an actual deal. As of now, the clean takeaway is that Kyler Murray has been released, Minnesota is the team most strongly tied to him, and his unusual contract setup gives any suitor a rare chance to add a former No. 1 overall pick at a reduced price.