Bleacher Report Formally Predicts Vikings’ Next QB
Tremendous momentum for Kyler Murray to the Minnesota Vikings has hummed in the last week, and now Bleacher Report is officially on board with the idea as its prediction. The Arizona Cardinals are in a position to trade or release Murray in the coming weeks, and if so, BR’s Moe Moton thinks he’ll land in the Twin Cities.
Vikings chatter keeps circling Murray, and Arizona’s cap calendar adds urgency to any potential decision on his future.
Vikings fans don’t adore Murray — they think he’s a lazy video game player who doesn’t fit Kevin O’Connell’s offense — but that doesn’t mean the franchise won’t explore his availability.
Kyler Murray Buzz Keeps Building for Minnesota
Murray to Minnesota has turned into a thing as of late.
Moe Moton QB Carousel Prediction: Murray to Vikings
Moton’s predictions are live, and Murray found his way to Minnesota. Moton wrote, “Kyler Murray lands in Minnesota, where he can build a rapport with two-time All-Pro Justin Jefferson. The two could become a high-level tandem that consistently puts up big numbers through the air. As a two-time Pro Bowler with the production to justify that recognition, Murray may just need a change of scenery to perform optimally again.”
“Under head coach Kevin O’Connell, who has called plays for top-nine scoring offenses in two out of four seasons in Minnesota, the 28-year-old signal-caller could reach peak levels of production playing alongside one of the league’s top receivers. An undersized, mobile quarterback, Murray would benefit from playing indoors, as he did in Arizona.”
Murray is the fifth-most accurate quarterback in NFL history.
Moton continued, “Because of his deep-ball accuracy, the dynamic signal-caller can maximize the Vikings’ talented pass-catching group, which includes Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson in addition to Jefferson. The Vikings are $40.2 million over the cap threshold. So they would likely prefer that the Cardinals release Murray.”
“In a trade scenario, Minnesota can restructure deals, including the quarterback’s contract, and cut veterans like Javon Hargrave, Ryan Kelly, and Aaron Jones to create space for him.”
Moton’s other splashiest theories sent Tua Tagovailoa to the Atlanta Falcons and Malik Willis to the Miami Dolphins.
Recent Steam
It took a while, but Vikings fans are starting understand that Murray to Minnesota is a real possibility. It’s not often that a quarterback who averages 4,000 passing yards, 600 rushing yards, and 30 total touchdowns per 17 games is attainable for a non-1st-Round draft pick. Murray may not be a dream fit for O’Connell’s offense, but O’Connell shouldn’t be above tweaking his system to accommodate a quarterback. In fact, fans called on the coach to do precisely that when J.J. McCarthy struggled in 2025.
Why is Murray to the Vikings in play? Well, McCarthy probably won’t be handed the uncontested QB1 job again in 2026. Somebody will take his job outright or make him compete for it in the summer. And after sizing up quarterback-needy teams that are not saddled with salary cap burdens, like the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins, there are only three spots that make sense for Murray: the New York Jets, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Vikings.
Pittsburgh may re-sign Aaron Rodgers and call it good, making the Murray sweepstakes a two-horse race between New York and Minnesota. Between those clubs, Murray grew up cheering for the Vikings. It’s not weird to surmise Minnesota would win the battle for Murray over New York.
The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis also listed Murray last week as his offseason fix for the Vikings’ quarterback situation. That appeared to make the scenario real for some.
Lewis wrote, “Once those teams force the Vikings to the next tier, which is likely, it’ll be about targeting a quarterback who can thread a needle, of sorts. Who could the Vikings afford who also could lead this team to the postseason? Who would inspire confidence in the building and from key players like Jefferson? Who could push young quarterback J.J. McCarthy? One possible answer is Cardinals veteran Kyler Murray.”
“The 28-year-old is experienced. He has been productive, and he is not afraid to attack vertically over the middle of the field. Murray’s base salary for 2026 is sizable ($36.8 million becomes guaranteed in the middle of March), which could require a renegotiation. It’s also possible that the Vikings don’t view him as a good fit. But the raw talent is unquestionable, especially compared to the other options in this tier.”
A Ticking Clock to Deadline for ARI
If Murray is still on the Cardinals’ roster by March 15 — about one month from now — approximately $60 million more will cement to Arizona’s books. With bright flashing lights, March 15th is the Cardinals’ de facto deadline on a Murray decision.
Meanwhile, if the plan is to release Murray — they can probably get something for him via trade — the Cardinals must do so by March 11th to avoid some of Murray’s 2027 money hitting the budget.
Therefore, if one assumes that Murray will be traded, that deal will shake down in the next month, unless the Cardinals don’t care about their finances, which is wildly unlikely.
Trade or Release?
NFL pundits have claimed that the price tag for Murray is a 2nd- or 3rd-round pick. Some have even speculated that a Day 3 pick (4th- or 5th-Rounder) may do the trick. On the other hand, if other general managers band together and play hardball, Murray could be released, setting off a sprint to the free-agent wire to recruit him.
The safest way for Minnesota to get Murray, per Bleacher Report‘s prediction, is to dangle a draft pick in front of general manager Monti Ossenfort, execute the trade, and then rework and/or extend Murray’s contract in Minnesota.
Murray would get a fresh start. Between him and McCarthy, the Vikings would have two options for a long-term QB1, which they’ve sought since Kirk Cousins left town after the 2023 campaign.
Murray will turn 29 this summer.
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