Report: Vikings considering Kyler Murray as veteran QB option for 2026

The Minnesota Vikings are considering Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray as a potential option for 2026, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano.

Fowler adds the Vikings are also looking into Las Vegas Raiders QB Geno Smith and others.

I’ve also heard that the Vikings are considering Murray and Smith as they outline their veteran quarterback plan. Tua Tagovailoa and (Kirk) Cousins are also on their radar. Some I’ve talked to are breaking those four into two tiers, with Murray and Smith in the first group.

Any veteran quarterback likely sees the Vikings and head coach Kevin O’Connell as a premium landing spot given their recent history of helping turn around now-Super Bowl champion Sam Darnold’s career.

The big hang-up here is all of them outside of Cousins, who is expected to be released when the new league year hits on March 11, are currently under contract with their respective teams.

From Murray’s side of things, a release seems like the only realistic avenue Arizona has left.

It’ll bring about a sizeable dead money hit but will also give the Cardinals a reset at the position after a seven-year run with Murray.

As for how that reset under new head coach Mike LaFleur might look?

While a lot of talk has centered around a Malik Willis pairing as a potential answer to Arizona’s QB question, the Cardinals could have eyes on another veteran signal caller: Los Angeles Rams backup Jimmy Garoppolo.

The Cardinals have interest, and Mike LaFleur is considered very close with Garoppolo. “That’s his guy,” a league source said. LaFleur can create a clean path to restart his quarterback room by adding at least one veteran and drafting a QB. That makes Murray and (Jacoby) Brissett expendable, and the feeling in Indy is that Murray wants out of Arizona.

Something to keep in mind with Garoppolo: He has one of the league’s best QB2 jobs with the Rams, who would welcome him back. Joining Green Bay as a No. 2 is also an option.

The Cardinals’ quarterbacks room outside of Murray consists of Brissett and Kedon Slovis.

Brissett took over for Murray midway through last season after the latter picked up a midfoot sprain in a Week 5 loss to the Tennessee Titans.

Brissett went 1-11 across 12 starts, completing 65.1% of his throws for 3,366 yards and 23 touchdowns to eight interceptions.

He also ran for 166 yards and a score on 37 carries.

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