{"id":859057,"date":"2026-04-07T14:17:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T14:17:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/859057\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T14:17:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T14:17:19","slug":"one-side-is-taking-heat-for-the-kyler-murray-situation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/859057\/","title":{"rendered":"One Side Is Taking Heat for the Kyler Murray Situation"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"KylerArizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) scans the field during a home matchup against the Washington Commanders, Sep 29, 2024, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The veteran signal-caller directed the offense in a competitive early-season contest as Arizona evaluated its offensive identity. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Have you wondered over the last month why the Arizona Cardinals<\/a> didn\u2019t trade Kyler Murray instead of releasing him? You\u2019re not alone.<\/p>\n

Arizona may have misread the market, and the Vikings could end up benefiting from that whiff in a big way.<\/p>\n

The Cardinals\u2019 brass kicked Murray out last month for nothing, and a few weeks later, folks are wondering why the process didn\u2019t shake down differently.<\/p>\n

Arizona\u2019s Murray Decision Looks Worse through a Vikings Lens<\/p>\n

Yes, it\u2019s odd that Murray never scraped the surface of trade talks.<\/p>\n

\"MontiMonti Ossenfort addresses reporters during a media session, outlining Arizona\u2019s approach to roster building and long-term planning during a leaguewide evaluation period. The appearance took place on Feb 27, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; at the NFL Scouting Combine inside the Indiana Convention Center, where front offices gathered to assess prospects and strategy. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n

The Questions about Murray\u2019s Offseason Fate<\/p>\n

The Athletic\u2018s Mike Sando published behind-the-scenes fodder from NFL free agency<\/a> last week, and the Cardinals kicked off the festivities.<\/p>\n

One anonymous executive told Sando<\/a>. \u201cI feel like they could have done a lot of different things, but they chose not to. They just wanted him off the roster, wanted to save the $19.5 million (in 2027 salary that would have become fully guaranteed this month). They did not want to mess with it. I don\u2019t know why. They don\u2019t have a good enough roster where that $19.5 million really matters.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another opined: \u201cI don\u2019t know why you would not just keep him on your roster for the whole season and then figure it out next year. You could probably trade him straight up off the $19.5 million, or if you cut him, then he\u2019s making $1.5 million next year with someone else, so it\u2019s an $18 million risk. If you can get a third-round pick for him, that is well worth the risk.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow were the Cardinals not able to trade him to the Jets, eat $35 million this year, and then the Jets are on the hook for the $19.5 million next year? That is basically two years at $25 million. The Jets would not have signed up for that?\u201d<\/p>\n

And these are questions Vikings fans have asked for about three months.<\/p>\n

The Kirk Cousins Example<\/p>\n

Cousins encountered a very similar situation to Murray \u2014 and somehow managed to earn $20 million in 2026 with his deal in Las Vegas<\/a>. One must ask: why didn\u2019t Murray get the Cousins treatment? Was his agent not smart enough to figure it out? Did the Vikings proceed that shrewdly and make it so that Murray would sign for the league minimum? That doesn\u2019t sound like typical Vikings\u2019 operations. <\/p>\n

Think of it this way: the Cardinals released Murray. The Atlanta Falcons released Cousins<\/a>. Murray grabbed a contract worth $1.3 million from Minnesota. Cousins got $20 million.<\/p>\n

How was Cousins able to finesse a team while Murray did not? It adds more fuel to the fire surrounding Murray\u2019s exit from Arizona.<\/p>\n

Cardinals Depreciated Murray\u2019s Value<\/p>\n

Of course, Arizona has itself to blame for failing to create a Murray market through trade. As Murray mitigated a foot injury in 2025, the Cardinals inserted Jacoby Brissett<\/a> into the starting lineup, who posted impressive raw statistics for a QB2 while his team piled oodles of losses. When Murray began to get close to a comeback, the Cardinals left Brissett in the lineup, prompting media members to ask if Murray had been \u201csoftly benched.\u201d The Cardinals\u2019 coaching staff and front office did next to nothing to refute the narrative.<\/p>\n

\"KylerKyler Murray looks on from the sideline after a tough divisional loss, reflecting on the outcome as Arizona closed its season at home. The moment came on Jan 7, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; following a matchup with the Seahawks at State Farm Stadium, capturing Murray\u2019s postgame reaction in a difficult finish. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n

So when it was time to choose an off-ramp for Murray this offseason, there apparently wasn\u2019t a robust trade market for a man who had been benched for Brissett. As recently as the middle of the 2024 regular season, before the trade deadline, the asking price for Murray would\u2019ve been at least two 1st-Rounders<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Fast forward to March 2026, and the Cardinals cut Murray for nothing.<\/p>\n

Vikings as the Beneficiary<\/p>\n

Murray enters a favorable situation in Minnesota. The Vikings\u2019 offensive line flashed potential last year despite injuries and roster instability, implying further growth is possible. The defense was elite under Brian Flores, ranking in the top three in both DVOA and EPA\/Play.<\/p>\n

Offensively, Kevin O\u2019Connell leads a unit brimming with skill-position talent, including Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, Aaron Jones, and Jordan Mason. Even with inconsistent quarterback play, the team managed a 9\u20138 record last season, suggesting a solid foundation for Murray\u2019s arrival. <\/p>\n

Murray also doesn\u2019t need to play at an MVP level to lead this team to victories. Consistent, above-average quarterback play should be enough to swing some of last season\u2019s losses; in several games last year for the Vikings, even competent quarterback play would have secured a win.<\/p>\n

\"KylerKyler Murray reacts along the sideline during in-game action, tracking the flow as Arizona battles a division opponent in front of its home crowd. The sequence occurred on Dec 7, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; during a contest against the Rams at State Farm Stadium, highlighting Murray\u2019s visible engagement throughout the matchup. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.<\/p>\n

While he\u2019s not expected to simply \u201cmanage,\u201d the bar for playoff contention isn\u2019t unreasonably high. Consider Baker Mayfield\u2019s performance in Tampa Bay \u2014 efficient, composed, and capable of making key plays. If Murray can replicate that level of play, Minnesota should be in a strong position, with even greater potential if he finds his rhythm.<\/p>\n

Murray shouldn\u2019t be viewed as merely a short-term solution, a route the Vikings have already explored with quarterbacks like Sam Darnold<\/a>. If Murray performs well, there\u2019s no reason he can\u2019t be a long-term fixture in Minnesota. His playmaking ability and arm talent raise the team\u2019s ceiling, offering the Vikings an opportunity for sustained success rather than another rebuild.<\/p>\n

All because the Cardinals may have bungled Murray\u2019s departure.<\/p>\n

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