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The Vikings Could Be in a Three-Team Race for Their Next QB
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- The Vikings Could Be in a Three-Team Race for Their Next QB
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Vikings are in the market for a new quarterback in the 2026 offseason, either pairing with J.J. McCarthy for a summer training camp battle, to replace him, or support him as a backup. While their current strategy is unknown, all signs point to Kyler Murray as a likely candidate. The problem? Minnesota may have to battle two other squads for his services: the New York Jets and the Pittsburgh Steelers .
Minnesota's path hinges on how fast Arizona acts and whether the Jets or Steelers push the price up.
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The Cardinals appear to be on the brink of divorce from Murray, and he'll have suitors.
The Kyler Murray Sweepstakes Feels Like a Three-Horse Race
Three teams make the most sense for Murray.
Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray scrambles and surveys the field during a regular-season matchup against San Francisco at State Farm Stadium on Jan 5, 2025, flashing arm talent and mobility that continue to define his game despite ongoing durability questions, as the Cardinals evaluated roster direction late in the season. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Kyler Murray and the Jets?
For now, New York has two quarterbacks in its roster orbit this offseason: Justin Fields and Brady Cook .
Fields had ample opportunity to catch fire as the Jets' long-term quarterback in 2025, but that just never materialized. He'll probably be released or traded this offseason for a late-round draft pick. It would be quite odd for the Jets to run it back with Fields in 2026 while hoping the outcome would be different.
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Cook experienced 4 starts as a rookie, delivering a lousy 2-touchdown to 7-interception split. He does not seem to be the solution at QB1 and only really played because the Jets had hit rock bottom in 2025.
Which brings the chat to Murray.
The Jets could draft Alabama's Ty Simpson in April, but he's not a totally coveted prospect. He's closer to Kenny Pickett than Drake Maye . Therefore, New York needs a quarterback and could dangle a 2nd- or 3rd-Round pick in front of Arizona.
SI.com 's Zach Pressnell wrote about Murray to New York last weekend, "Murray is the perfect option for the Jets. He fits a very similar profile to Fields, but he has a much higher floor. The Jets wouldn't need to shift their entire offense to fit Murray's style. It would fit Murray's running game in the same way it fit Fields' way of doing business."
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"It would be fairly expensive to trade for Murray, likely costing a second-round pick, but the Jets have plenty of draft capital to deal from. They have five first round picks over the next two years, as well as a slew of second round picks."
Kyler Murray and the Steelers?
In Pittsburgh , Omar Khan somewhat controversially hired Mike McCarthy as the new head coach, succeeding Mike Tomlin, who spent about 20 years in the position. Aaron Rodgers may be on the fast track to return, as Rodgers and McCarthy worked together for 17 seasons in Green Bay.
But what if Rodgers retires or signs with the Vikings? Well, Pittsburgh would need a quarterback, and after swinging and missing on Kenny Pickett in 2022, a player like Simpson may not move the needle.
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That would put Khan and McCarthy on the doorstep of Murray trade talks, at least in theory. Like the Vikings, the Steelers are very much in win-now mode — because that's just their modus operandi.
Kyler Murray and the Vikings?
When the Vikings fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah last week, McCarthy — J.J., not Mike — might have been the biggest "loser" of the day aside from Adofo-Mensah personally. Now is the perfect time to shimmy away from McCarthy as the quarterback of the future if the powers that be have soured on him. The franchise basically has a get-out-of-jail-free card here and now.
Murray is 28 and checks just about every box at quarterback in 2026: arm talent, ball placement, speed, pocket feel, and real, functional mobility. When plays break down, he's a problem — in a good way. When things are on schedule, he can be lethal. His resume already includes a top-five completion rate in NFL history.
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The concerns are familiar and bundled together. He's listed at 5'10" or 5'11", depending on who's holding the tape measure. Smaller quarterbacks absorb hits differently, and durability naturally enters the conversation. That's the trade-off teams weigh when the upside includes elite efficiency and his team's lack of playoff success.
Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell exchanges words with quarterback J.J. McCarthy after a first-quarter touchdown at Ford Field on Nov. 2, 2025, capturing a brief moment of optimism amid an uneven season, as Minnesota emphasized development, communication, and patience while assessing its young passer's long-term trajectory during a challenging rebuild phase. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
If Arizona moves on — via trade or release — Murray won't linger. A competent playcaller who understands spacing, tempo, and movement can unlock him fairly quickly. That could be Kevin O'Connell .
Remember: the Vikings went 9–8 in 2025 while getting bottom-five quarterback play across the league. Inject Murray into the offense, and enthusiasm would change overnight. Thirteen or fourteen wins could become a reality, especially after the Vikings pulled off the same feat with Sam Darnold in 2024.
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Anybody Else?
The Jets, Steelers, and Vikings are the true frontrunners for Murray if he's indeed on the trade block. But it's also worth noting that these organizations don't have 100% quarterback stability and therefore cannot be wholly ruled out:
Kyler Murray returns to game action for Arizona, making his 2023 season debut against Atlanta at State Farm Stadium on Nov 12, 2023, testing recovery and rhythm while operating the Cardinals' offense, a pivotal evaluation point as the franchise measured his readiness after extended absence during a closely watched return. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-Arizona Republic
The Browns and Dolphins would have a difficult time onboarding an expensive quarterback (like Murray) due to large contracts for Deshaun Watson and Tua Tagovailoa , respectively. And the Colts seem committed to Daniel Jones and his Achilles tendon recovery.
The cool part about a Murray trade? It could be finagled and announced as early as now.
