Quarterback Kyler Murray Joins Minnesota Vikings on One-Year Contract

The Minnesota Vikings have secured former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray on a one-year, league-minimum contract. Murray, who was the first overall draft pick and 2019 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, will compete with J.J. McCarthy for the starting quarterback position.

The Minnesota Vikings have acquired quarterback Kyler Murray, the former top overall draft selection, on a one-year contract agreement.

Minnesota made the announcement Thursday, just one day following Murray’s official departure from the Arizona Cardinals, where he spent his entire seven-year professional career.

Murray confirmed his move to Minnesota by posting on his X social media account, showing himself wearing Vikings uniform with the message “Skol.”

Despite Arizona remaining responsible for Murray’s $36.8 million salary obligation for the 2026 season following his release, the mobile quarterback will earn $1.3 million from the Vikings, which represents the minimum salary for players with seven or more years of experience.

Multiple reports indicate the contract contains a no-tag provision, preventing Minnesota from using the franchise tag on Murray following the 2026 campaign.

Murray earned AP Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2019 and secured Pro Bowl selections during his second and third seasons, but his performance has declined significantly over the past four years.

During the 2025 season, Murray appeared in just five games—a career low—before landing on injured reserve due to a foot injury. He completed passes for 962 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions, while managing only 173 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown, both career lows.

Murray has completed a full regular season schedule only once during the previous five years (2024). Throughout his 87 career starts, he holds a 38-48-1 record while completing 67.1% of his attempts for 20,460 yards, 121 touchdown passes and 60 interceptions, plus 3,193 rushing yards with 32 rushing touchdowns.

His postseason experience consists of a single playoff appearance, where he threw two interceptions without a touchdown pass during a 34-11 wild-card defeat to the Los Angeles Rams in 2021.

Murray will now compete with current starter J.J. McCarthy for Minnesota’s top quarterback role in the upcoming season. McCarthy, selected 10th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, also dealt with injury issues last season during his debut campaign after missing all of 2024 with a torn meniscus.

McCarthy started 10 games during 2025, connecting on 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, while adding 181 rushing yards and four rushing scores.