Minnesota Vikings - Kyler Murray
Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings have been rumored to be the landing spot of Kyler Murray since the start of the offseason, when it became clear the Arizona Cardinals were going to release their 28-year-old 2x Pro Bowler and eat the $40 million still guaranteed on his contract.
And at the NFL combine, when it became clear the Vikings were trying to save as much money as possible this offseason, the connections to Kyler Murray and Geno Smith went through the roof, since either player could be had for a league minimum $1.3 million.
Momentum has built since then, to the point where his release on Wednesday led him onto a plane bound for the Twin Cities. In the hours between Kyler’s release and his arrival at TCO Performance Center Thursday morning, Murray spoke virtually with other teams.
Kyler Murray officially signs with the Minnesota Vikings
But it became clear by this morning that, barring something going completely wrong today in Eagan, Kyler Murray was not going to leave without a contract to play quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings in 2026.
And sure enough, around 5:20 p.m. CDT Thursday, March 12, official news broke that the Vikings had signed the former No. 1 overall draft pick out of Oklahoma to the cheapest starting quarterback contract in the NFL.
Two-time Pro Bowl QB Kyler Murray has signed a one-year contract with the Vikings, his agent @ErikBurkhardt tells me and @RapSheet.
The deal includes a no-tag clause. Murray will make $36.8 million this season, with Arizona paying all but the minimum salary. pic.twitter.com/ZUC9ADRc1A
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 12, 2026
Related: MN Vikings WR Fires Stray at Patriots CB on Social Media
Pelissero, among other insiders, maintain this idea that Kyler Murray and JJ McCarthy will compete against each other this summer, and into training camp, for the Minnesota Vikings’ starting QB job.
In theory, saying that might make JJ McCarthy feel better. But in action, it doesn’t make very much sense. Murray will need all the first team reps he can get, as he tries to learn Kevin O’Connell’s offensive playbook in a matter of months.
Nonetheless, Kyler confirmed in his introductory press conference this evening that he is coming in to compete for the starting job. So if the Vikings did make him any sort of promises, they coached him up well in hiding it.
The Vikings' hope is competition will also bring out the best in J.J. McCarthy, who will need to beat out former No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray to be QB1 in 2026. https://t.co/wxmMVcMuYN
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 12, 2026
If Kyler Murray has to earn his spot… fine
Of course, he will have to earn the respect of his teammates, in order to assert himself as the bona fide starter. But even if the McCarthy vs Murray duel starts off as a competition, it shouldn’t last long. Kyler Murray has thrown for over 3,700 yards and 20 touchdowns in all four seasons in which he’s played 14 or more games.
As long as Murray stays healthy and reverts back to the guy we saw as recently as 2024, when he completed 68.8% of his passes to throw for 3,851 yards, 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions; while rushing for another 572 yards, five more touchdowns and 27 first downs.
Kyler Murray lit up Week 1, 2021 with 5 TDs 😤
AZvsNO– Sunday 9/7 at 1pm ET on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/5mAztJd7nM
— NFL (@NFL) August 30, 2025
Related: Vikings’ High Price Disappointment Lands with New Team
They hope to avoid the 2025 version of Kyler Murray, who started just 5 games and essentially lost his job to Jacoby Brissett, after throwing for 962 yards, 6 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.
No matter, barring JJ McCarthy undergoing some sort of developmental miracle over the offseason, there’s just no realistic path to him being the Minnesota Vikings starting quarterback in 2026.
Mentioned in this article: J.J. McCarthy Kyler Murray
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