For the first time in his NFL career, former No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray is playing somewhere outside of the Arizona Cardinals organization.
After officially being released by the Cardinals on Wednesday, Murray’s name gained steam. Now, he is signing a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings.
Two-time Pro Bowl QB Kyler Murray has signed a one-year contract with the Vikings, his agent @ErikBurkhardt tells me and @RapSheet.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 12, 2026
The deal includes a no-tag clause. Murray will make $36.8 million this season, with Arizona paying all but the minimum salary. pic.twitter.com/ZUC9ADRc1A
Following Murray’s release on Wednesday, the Vikings emerged as a favorite, and they get things done quickly to bring him on board alongside J.J. McCarthy.
It was previously reported that Murray had an interest in joining the Indianapolis Colts, but the Colts’ $88 million deal for Daniel Jones likely changed Murray’s mind.
Murray was selected first overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. He signed a five-year, $230.5 million deal in 2022, so the Cardinals bit the bullet and swallowed the money to move on from the quarterback.
The Vikings made it clear that they wanted to bring in competition for McCarthy, who missed all of his rookie season with an injury and then had an up-and-down 2025 campaign.
Now, they do just that, and they have the benefit of paying Murray a minimum salary with the Cardinals responsible for the rest.
