Former number one pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Kyler Murray, who was recently released by the Arizona Cardinals, signed with the Minnesota Vikings on a one-year deal at the league minimum, according to NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.
“To everyone that supported me and showed kindness to my family and I during my time in AZ, from the bottom of my heart, thank you,” Murray wrote on X.
“I wanted nothing more than to be the one to end the 77-year drought for this organization. I am sorry I failed us. I wish this community and my brothers nothing but the best.
“I am no stranger to adversity, I am prepared for whatever’s next. I trust in God and my work ethic. I truly believe my best ball is in front of me and I look forward to proving it. Godspeed.”
Rapoport and Pelissero added that Murray’s agreement with Minnesota includes a clause that prohibits the use of tags. The Cardinals still owe Murray $36.8 million, which provides the Vikings with low risk and high rewards this upcoming season.
According to numerous reports, Murray visited the Twin Cities with the belief that he wouldn’t leave the facility without a deal being signed.
“I’m just grateful for the opportunity,” Murray said Thursday during a Zoom news conference with reporters when asked if he expects to be named the starter or to battle for the job. “I look forward to coming in and competing.”
Murray added he’ll be ready to go “when the time comes.”
Murray’s seven seasons in Arizona were full of memorable performances, but the only playoff appearance he had was a wild-card loss to the Los Angeles Rams in 2021.
He was 38-48-1 with the Cardinals, but injuries, including a torn ACL at the end of 2022, defined his last five years with the team. In 2025, he played only five games before sustaining a foot injury that kept him out for the rest of the season.
In seven seasons, Murray has thrown 121 touchdowns and 60 interceptions. In addition, he has amassed 32 rushing touchdowns.
Murray’s being under contract creates an immediate quarterback competition with J.J. McCarthy.
JJ McCarthy was drafted in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but his first stint as a starting quarterback in the 2025-26 campaign was not impressive. McCarthy, who is 23 years old, achieved a season-high 1,632 yards with 15 touchdowns (11 passing, 4 running) and a pass completion rate of 57.6%. He also threw 12 interceptions.
According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell wanted to create a competition at the quarterback position.
“Kevin O’Connell has said he wanted to add competition at QB. O’Connell tonight on if he views Kyler Murray as his starting QB or in competition with J.J. McCarthy: “Unless I’m confused in any way, shape or form, I don’t believe we have to name one of those currently.”
O’Connell declined to name a starter at this point, and it wouldn’t make sense given that it’s March and there are still events like the draft, OTAs, and training camp to come.
Last month, O’Connell was asked if he still saw McCarthy as a franchise quarterback.
“A lot of those feelings are still the same. It’s just the timeline is in a different place for all of us than it was [in 2024].”
“And I have a responsibility — we have a responsibility collectively as we put together this team — to make sure that we use the data that we have at this time and the experiences we have, the feelings that we’ve had at different times as an organization.” O’Connell continued.
The feelings that O’Connell is referring to are those of his comments in August 2024, when he called McCarthy, who at that time was a rookie that had just impressed in pre-season prior to suffering a season-ending meniscus injury, “our franchise quarterback“.
With Murray now in Minnesota, the Vikings head into the offseason with a compelling quarterback battle on the horizon. Whether the veteran can rediscover the form that once made him the NFL’s top draft pick or if McCarthy takes the next step in his development will likely be one of the team’s most closely watched storylines as OTAs, training camp, and as the 2026 season approaches.