Insider Suggests MN Vikings Land Big Name QB

Sam Darnold graduated from Kevin O’Connell’s QB school after a stellar 2024 season. One year later, he’s having another great season out in Seattle leading the 11-3 Seahawks.

Meanwhile, J.J. McCarthy is still trying to find his way, but recent results have indicated that the youngster may be turning a corner. No matter how McCarthy finishes out his redshirt rookie season, the MN Vikings are expected to seek a veteran quarterback addition this offseason.

They could go for a one-year veteran like Aaron Rodgers, should he return for yet another season — or even knock on Daniel Jones’ door again, coming off season-ending injury. Of course, they could go an entirely different direction too.

Jeremy Fowler sparks Kyler Murray to Vikings steam

On Wednesday, ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler looked at the state of the NFL, prior to Week 16. There, he got into the dark cloud currently hanging over the Arizona Cardinals — which is their relations with QB Kyler Murray.

At this point an offseason trade that sends the 28-year-old dual-threat quarterback to another organization seems inevitable. And when it happens, according to Fowler, a soft landing spot in Minnesota “would be ideal”.

This leads to a conversation on Kyler Murray, whom the Cardinals are subtly — or quite obviously — trying to stash to preserve his health for a potential trade this offseason. His nearly $37 million in guarantees on the 2026 books complicates the market for his services, but Murray is 28 and isn’t far removed from fringe top-10-QB status.

Does a safe landing spot exist for Murray? Working with, say, Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota would be ideal, but J.J. McCarthy has shown improvement over the past two weeks. The Raiders and Jets are among teams that appear to be in transition at quarterback. Whether a team takes a chance on Murray’s maligned career — and gives up draft capital and financial resources to do it — remains to be seen.

Jeremy Fowler

Kyler Murray has played just five games this season, completing 68.3% of his passes while throwing for 6 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. The Arizona Cardinals are 2-3 in Murray’s starts this season.

The first overall pick in 2019 signed a five-year, $230 million deal in 2022, meaning he still has two years remaining on his current contract. Arizona can’t really cut Murray, as he’s currently carrying a $99 million dead cap hit.

No doubt, trading for Murray would be an aggressive bet on a middling player, but O’Connell may view him as a buy-low high-end talent, capable of elevating his offense to places that JJ McCarthy cannot physically take it. Only time will tell…

Was this Kyler Murray's last touchdown as an Arizona Cardinal? pic.twitter.com/fK9EovIiL4

— SleeperCardinals (@SleeperAZCards) November 13, 2025