The Minnesota Vikings are meeting with quarterback Kyler Murray after the Arizona Cardinals released him despite owing $36.8 million in guaranteed salary. Murray, the 2019 first overall draft pick, could provide competition for struggling Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

The Minnesota Vikings are meeting with quarterback Kyler Murray as they explore their options at the position, according to a source familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Arizona released Murray on Wednesday when the new league year started, even though they still owed him $36.8 million in guaranteed money for the upcoming season.

The Thursday meeting comes as Minnesota searches for solutions at quarterback, with current starter J.J. McCarthy facing questions about his development after a rookie season marred by injuries and inconsistent play. Coach Kevin O’Connell appears to view Murray as a legitimate option to either compete with or potentially replace their 2024 first-round selection.

Despite recent injury setbacks and concerns about his dedication to the game, Murray brings impressive credentials including two Pro Bowl appearances, a 67% completion rate throughout his career, and substantial mobility with 3,193 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns on the ground.

Murray’s professional journey began promisingly after capturing the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma. He earned AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and seemed to elevate Arizona’s prospects early in his tenure. His highlight reel includes memorable moments like the “Hail Murray” in 2020, when he found DeAndre Hopkins for a dramatic game-winning score against Buffalo as time expired. In 2021, Murray threw for 400 yards in a Week 2 victory over Minnesota, helping Arizona jump to a 10-2 start before ending the season 11-6.

The Cardinals rewarded Murray with a massive five-year, $230.5 million extension in 2022, guaranteeing $160 million. However, the relationship soured quickly after the deal was finalized. Arizona initially included an unusual provision requiring four hours of “independent study” during game weeks, which they later removed amid controversy. The incident raised doubts about Murray’s work habits and damaged his standing with the organization.

A torn ACL in his right knee ended Murray’s 2022 season prematurely, forcing him to miss significant time in 2023 as Jonathan Gannon took over coaching duties from Kliff Kingsbury. The 2024 season showed improvement with Murray and Gannon working together, as Arizona went 8-9 and remained in playoff contention until late in the year.

This past season unraveled quickly for both Murray and the Cardinals. A right foot injury limited him to just five games, though doctors initially expected only a brief recovery period. Veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett stepped in effectively during Murray’s absence, who was eventually placed on injured reserve. Arizona finished with the league’s worst record at 3-14, leading to Gannon’s dismissal.

Following news of his release last week, Murray posted on social media expressing disappointment that he guided the team to just one playoff appearance across seven seasons – a wild-card loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams in 2021.

“I truly believe my best ball is in front of me and I look forward to proving it,” Murray wrote.

McCarthy’s development has been hampered by a series of setbacks after missing his entire rookie year recovering from knee surgery. In 2025, he dealt with an ankle sprain, concussion, and broken hand that restricted him to 10 starts and only eight completed games. Even when healthy, accuracy issues were significant enough to prompt Minnesota to explore other options despite McCarthy showing flashes of potential.

After relying on Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer as backups last season, O’Connell and the Vikings recognized they need better depth behind McCarthy heading into 2026. McCarthy himself appears to understand his starting position may be in jeopardy.