The worst-kept secret in the NFL is finally out in the open. Kyler Murray is signing with the Vikings.
After being released by the Arizona Cardinals on Wednesday afternoon in a move that was widely expected across the NFL, the 28-year-old quarterback visited Minnesota on Thursday afternoon and ultimately decided the Vikings offered the best fit for him.
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There had been multiple reports linking both sides to each other over the past couple of weeks. A source recently confirmed the mutual interest to the Pioneer Press. Now the marriage is official.
It will reportedly be a one-year, $1.3 million contract for Murray that gives him an opportunity to get his career back on track. He will play for the Vikings on the veteran’s minimum because the structure of his previous deal puts the Cardinals on the hook for the $36.8 million in fully guaranteed money he is owed.
It’s still unclear if Murray will be the unquestioned starter for the Vikings, though it’s hard to believe the former No. 1 overall pick would’ve agreed to terms without some sort of assurance that he’d be ahead of J.J. McCarthy in the pecking order.
The move comes with some risk for the Vikings as Murray hasn’t yet reached his full potential for a variety of reasons. It’s hard to ignore that Murray’s time with the Cardinals came to an end after he was benched in favor of Jacoby Brissett. There have also been questions about his work ethic that have followed him around like a ghost.
That said, Murray was undoubtedly the most talented option the Vikings currently had at their disposal. That explains why they moved fast to work something out with him as soon as he became available on the open market.
It’s no secret that McCarthy underwhelmed after the Vikings handed the keys to the car. He struggled to adapt to the highest level both on and off the field, which, in turn, opened the door for him potentially being replaced.
After the Vikings disappointingly missed the playoffs last season, Kevin O’Connell indicated that he wanted to bring in somebody to at least compete with McCarthy ahead of this season. Asked at the time about his plans at quarterback, O’Connell replied, “I absolutely want a competitive situation.” He made that declaration without knowing a former No. 1 overall pick was going to be up for grabs.
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It was a similar tone from O’Connell last month at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. He emphasized his belief that McCarthy could still be a foundational piece for the Vikings while also acknowledging that a couple of major injuries have stunted his growth.
“There have been some circumstances that have naturally hurt his chances of having a smooth development phase,” O’Connell said. “He still has shown a lot of the traits that we feel we can continue to build on.”
Since being selected by the Vikings in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, McCarthy has only started 10 games. He has missed time due to a torn meniscus, a high ankle sprain, a concussion and a broken hand.
“We’ve got to make up for some lost time,” O’Connell said. “It’s going to be about that competition being a catalyst for making up on some of that lost time.”
As he reflected on McCarthy’s journey, O’Connell highlighted the importance of availability at the position, noting that the Vikings had a 13-4 record in 2022 when Kirk Cousins played every game and a 14-3 record in 2024 when Sam Darnold played every game.
It’s worth noting that Murray hasn’t exactly been the pinnacle of health himself. He most notably suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament on Dec. 12, 2022, from which he made a full recovery after a lengthy rehab. He’s also battled through a number of minor injuries that have caused him to miss pockets of time here and there.
There’s no denying that Murray has shown flashes of brilliance along the way, however, and that’s what the Vikings seem to be banking on at this point. He has a singular skill set with the ability to impact the game with his arm and his legs. He has thrown for 20,460 yards and 121 touchdowns while completing 67.1% of his passes. He has also run for 3,193 yards and 32 touchdowns.
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It will be interesting to see how the Vikings move forward with Murray and McCarthy both a part of the conversation. Will they publicly commit to Murray as their starter? Will they leave the door open for McCarthy to compete?
The answer to those questions remain to be seen.
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