Mar 12, 2026
3 min read
The NFL quarterback market came alive when Kyler Murray became available, with the Minnesota Vikings reportedly leading despite having J.J. McCarthy on the roster.
Kyler Murray's time with the Arizona Cardinals is officially over after the team released him Wednesday at the start of the new league year.
Murray is now a free agent who can talk to any team interested in his services through 2026 and beyond, but one team appears to be heavily pursuing the former No. 1 overall pick.
McCarthy, entering his third season with the club, is the "heavy favorite" to sign Murray, a 2024 first-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings, according to JJESPN.
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McCarthy, who missed his rookie year with a season-ending injury in the preseason, got his first taste of regular-season NFL football in 2025. But McCarthy struggled despite going 6-4 in 10 games. Injuries again called time.
With McCarthy's status unclear in Minnesota, it appears that head coach Kevin O'Connell and the entire organization are looking for a player who can step in as McCarthy develops.
Murray could be the signal-caller after a seven-year stint with Arizona, going 38-48-1 in 87 games.He apologized to Cardinals fans last week, confirming the team's intentions to release him despite being owed $36.8 million in guaranteed money from his five-year, $230.5 million extension signed in 2022.
Athletics GM 'ordinary' for Kyler Murray reunion before Cardinals release.
Murray wrote on the
"I'm no stranger to adversity, I'm prepared for whatever comes next. I have faith in God and my work ethic. I truly believe my best ball is ahead of me and I'm excited to prove it. Good luck."
The 28-year-old Murray has had a rough NFL career so far, with injuries and inconsistent play becoming a record no matter the game, showing why the team loves him as the No. 1 overall pick.
Last season, Murray went 2-3 in five games, throwing six sacks and three touchdowns before exiting with a foot injury.Jacoby Brissett, who was set to take over as the team's quarterback in the second year of the two-year deal he signed last season with the franchise, took Murray and succeeded despite the record.He threw for a career-high 3,366 yards with 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
However, the Cardinals finished 3-14 and the franchise went in a different direction, firing head coach Jonathan Gannon.His replacement is Mike LaFleur, who served as the Los Angeles Rams' offensive coordinator until 2026.
Early in his tenure with the Cardinals, Murray was a player to build around after making Pro Bowls in 2020 and 2021, the latter of which he threw for 3,787 yards and 24 touchdowns and ran for 423 yards with five scores on the ground.He also rushed for 819 yards and 11 scores in 2020, a part of his game that made it so electric.
However, Murray's career was hampered by injuries, including a torn ACL in Week 14 of the 2022 season that forced him to miss nine games in 2023. Then in 2024, after the entire 17-game season, he injured his foot.
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With quarterback-needy teams like the Miami Dolphins (Malik Willis) and New York Jets (Geno Smith) already filling out their depth charts earlier this week, the Vikings appear to be the best bet if Murray is looking for a fresh start for a playoff shot.
It's also worth noting that the Pittsburgh Steelers still don't have a starting quarterback for next season as they appear to be awaiting word on what Aaron Rodgers wants to do in 2026.
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