By Megan ArmstrongShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe Minnesota Vikings are the favorite to sign newly released Kyler Murray, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
Pelissero noted that Murray "will take his time" to evaluate his options and "wants to speak with interested teams," but the Vikings have the edge. If the 28-year-old former Arizona Cardinals quarterback does choose the Vikings, his arrival in Minnesota would be eerily similar to how he began his NFL career in Arizona.
The Cardinals selected UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Rosen started as a rookie and struggled to the tune of 2,278 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions on just 55.2% completion. In February 2019, then-Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury insisted on the team's commitment to Rosen as QB1 — the official Cardinals X (formerly Twitter) account even backed Rosen — despite holding the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. The Cardinals used the No. 1 overall pick on Murray, effectively ending Rosen's NFL career.
The Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick in 2024. While it is not a direct 1-to-1 comparison, McCarthy is staring down the same fate as Rosen at the hands of Murray. It's even more ominous that the Vikings have not been nearly as vocally reassuring of McCarthy after his first season as their QB1.
...McCarthy missed the entirety of his rookie season after suffering a torn meniscus during the preseason. In 2025, the Michigan product struggled to stay healthy with various injuries. When he played, he put up 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions on 57.6% completion, while consistently looking overwhelmed. The eye test said it all, but the advanced statistics spell out just how much more development McCarthy needs at the pro level.
According to respected NFL analyst Warren Sharp, among the 36 quarterbacks who started an NFL game in 2025, McCarthy ranked 35th in accuracy, 36th in third-down conversion rate, 35th in EPA per pass, 35th in completion rate, 36th in sack + interception rate, 35th in passer rating, and 35th in touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Murray is far from a guarantee to elevate the Vikings to playoff contention, but it is a near guarantee that he'd perform better than that if he can stay healthy in 2026. Which, to be fair, has been a big if in the past four years. Murray tore his ACL in December 2022, which also ate into his 2023 campaign, and a foot injury cost him most of last year.
Kyler only led the Cardinals to the playoffs once — in 2021 — and his lone playoff performance was hideous. But Murray would bring a veteran presence and a steadying hand. At the very least, he could challenge McCarthy and, ideally, expedite his development.
We've seen Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell reinvent Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold and the heights Minnesota's offense reached with capable quarterback play. Murray has the athleticism for O'Connell to create around. Plus, it's a football crime to waste league-best wide receiver Justin Jefferson's prime.
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