Former NFLer Has the Quarterback Solution for Vikings
Because the Minnesota Vikings don’t sound totally committed to J.J. McCarthy for the long haul, fans and NFL media have speculated about the identity of a new quarterback in the 2026 campaign. Along the way, one former NFLer, Domonique Foxworth, claims to have the solution: Arizona Cardinals passer Kyler Murray.
Foxworth’s pitch is straightforward, but the price and the Vikings’ desire make the Murray sweepstakes a bit mysterious.
Murray is no stranger to the Vikings’ January and February rumor mill, but day by day, the connection has grown louder.
Foxworth Pushes Murray as the Vikings’ QB Answer
It’s new evidence supporting Murray as a Viking.
Foxworth: Murray to MIN Makes Sense
Foxworth joined ESPN’s Get Up show this week, and among several topics, he mentioned Murray as a Vikings QB1 candidate.
“I still think he’s incredibly talented. Of course, he’s uniquely built to play quarterback, which isn’t always good, but I think he’s a guy that, in the right situation, could help out a lot,” Foxworth told the show’s panel.
“I really like the Vikings as a spot where they could get someone like Kyler Murray to take some of the pressure off of him. I don’t think that the Cardinals have been a particularly well-run organization. And that’s not to take responsibility away from Kyler.”
With a new head coach in Mike LaFleur, plus no playoff wins for the Cardinals on Murray’s watch, Arizona could trade him this offseason, and Minnesota evidently checks out as a landing spot.
Foxworth added, “I think some of this has to do with him maturing as a player, which I think he will. And finding a new team, sometimes it’s a wakeup call that players need to kind of fulfill their potential.”
“So, I think Kyler Murray’s career is far from over, given his athleticism and arm strength. It’s just, we just hope that he ends up in the right spot so he can fulfill his potential.”
The Trade Price
Murray’s trade value, of course, is not an exact science. Sometimes NFL trades hit the wire, and the acquiring team retrieves a haul for far less than expected; in other situations, the selling team cleans house.
But because the Cardinals appear to have decided on a new path at quarterback, Murray’s value may be lower than most franchise quarterbacks. The budding consensus suggests Arizona will offload him for a 2nd- or 3rd-Round pick, which checks out because he still has about $36 million left on his current contract, and his new team will eat some of the salary.
Therefore, in alignment with Foxworth’s recommendation, Vikings fans must decide if Murray is worth a 2nd- or 3rd-Rounder. Some will say yes without hesitation. Others don’t much care for the Murray experience.
Fansided‘s Mark Howell on Murray’s trade price: “The asking price for Murray is said to be somewhere close to a second-round pick. The Cardinals can ask for more, but they will not receive it. Murray’s contract isn’t expensive, but it also isn’t cheap. He’s coming off a down year by his standards and there is no guarantee he’ll thrive elsewhere, including in Minnesota with O’Connell.”
“Mike LaFleur also did not help build up Murray’s value when he admitted he’ll evaluate the skill positions prior to the draft. That includes quarterback, where Murray’s starting job is anything but set in stone.”
A Geographical Cure for Murray
The Cardinals drafted Murray with the first overall pick in 2019, replacing 1st-Rounder Josh Rosen from the previous draft. He’s worked as the QB1 in the desert for seven seasons, and that arrangement has translated to one playoff trip and no postseason wins.
He averages 235 passing yards per game, 37 rushing yards, and 1.75 total touchdowns. Those numbers should catch fire anywhere, especially on a team like the Vikings that has featured a Top 3 defense in the last two seasons.
Unimpressive defenses have plagued Murray’s career in Arizona. Here’s a look at the numbers comparatively in the last two seasons:
Defense Ranking per EPA/Play,
Since 2024:
Vikings: 1st
Cardinals: 25th
With the Cardinals, Murray accompanied the league’s eighth-worst defense in the last two years. He’d enjoy the NFL’s best in Minnesota.
Down to MIN, NYJ, and PIT?
The Murray sweepstakes could already be down to three teams: the Vikings, New York Jets, and Pittsburgh Steelers. And the Steelers could drop off rather easily if Aaron Rodgers rejoins his old skipper, Mike McCarthy, for one last hurrah.
Most other QB-needy teams will draft quarterbacks, like the Las Vegas Raiders, or cannot afford another large quarterback contract, like the Cleveland Browns.
Based on the current lay of the land, Murray’s next team could be a binary choice between the Vikings and Jets.
It helps that Murray was a Vikings fan as a kid. Minnesota may have more wooing power than New York.
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