Another NFL Insider Floats Kyler Murray to Vikings

Until the Minnesota Vikings make a move to change their quarterback room, speculation will run rampant over who they’ll bring in to potentially save the 2026 season, if JJ McCarthy proves unready yet again.
That means Kevin Connell has another opportunity to get it right, after he and the now departed Kwesi Adofo-Mensah failed to do one year ago. Lucky for him, it sounds like every quarterback who might come available this offseason would love to play for the Vikings.
Albert Breer calls for MN Vikings to target Kyler Murray
And early on, it’s pretty clear who the leader in the clubhouse is out at TCO Performance Center — it’s 2019 No. 1 overall, Kyler Murray. On Monday, Albert Breer (Sports Illustrated) became the latest trusted insider to project a fit between the Vikings and Arizona’s 29-year-old quarterback, while doing a segment with Colin Cowherd.
"It probably makes it more likely that Arizona just flat out has to move off of him and cut him…"@colincowherd and @AlbertBreer talk about what will happen with Cardinals QB Kyler Murray pic.twitter.com/F6x4iMut2Q
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) February 16, 2026
“We just need to consider them through the Darnold, Daniel Jones, Baker Mayfield, Geno Smith lens. Does somebody look at these guys and say, ‘yeah, I can get more out of them’ You know who did a really good job of that the last couple of years? The Minnesota Vikings. The Minnesota Vikings brought in Sam Darnold and got a great year out of him. They brought in Daniel Jones, sort of revived his stock just having him there as a backup, gave him a little bit of a chance to reset at the end of the 2024 season… When I look at Kyler, it would be a landing spot like that.”
Albert Breer – The Herd
Murray has seen more success in the NFL than Sam Darnold, prior to his arrival in Eagan. Sure, he’s small and comes with personality concerns, but he’s also a former Rookie of the Year who’s made two Pro Bowls. Not to mention, his talent is undeniable.
Kyler Murray owns a career 67.1% completion rate and has thrown for over 20,000 yards in his career, totaling 121 touchdowns and 60 interceptions in 87 NFL games.
The MN Vikings can’t afford to let another season of Justin Jefferson be wasted, and Murray would immediately provide the Vikings with a better QB option than they had all of last season.
Contract complicates things for MN Vikings
This season, Murray is scheduled to carry a cap hit of $52.6 million, and a dead cap penalty of $54.7 million. Those numbers are gaudy before even considering the MN Vikings needing to clear more than $40 million in cap space.
The Cardinals could simply swallow the cap hit, at which point Minnesota would then have ultimate flexibility with him as a free agent. Should the Vikings trade for him, then money will need to be shuffled around.
“Kyler’s got $36.8 million guaranteed this year, and then another $19.5 million guaranteed next year. That complicates trading for him. That complicates cutting him. I think you see the way that that splits up and I think it probably makes it more likely that Arizona just has to flat out move off of him and cut him and let him go to the market.”
Albert Breer – The Herd
If the Cardinals decide just to cut bait with Murray, he’d get a clean slate to with whatever team he signs with. At this point, that seems like the expectation. When he hits the open market, suitors won’t be hard to find.
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