The Minnesota Vikings have a serious issue at the most important position on the football field. After a 13-4 season with Sam Darnold at the helm in 2024, Kevin O’Connell’s team is currently sitting at 4-8 and sporting the 29th-ranked passing offense in the NFL. It is becoming apparent that the JJ McCarthy experiment has not gone to plan, and the team could look to make a change after living through just one year of him under center.
Could The Vikings Trade For Kyler Murray This Offseason?
If they do move on, could Kyler Murray be a viable option by way of a trade?
Now in his seventh season as his team’s starting quarterback, Murray’s status with the Arizona Cardinals is uncertain. He has dealt with injuries in 2025 and hasn’t performed all that well in his limited appearances, and there is growing speculation that a split will be coming this offseason.
Vikings QBR in Week 12 (JJ McCarthy): 34.2
Vikings QBR in Week 13 (Max Brosmer): 32.8QBR if you spiked the ball EVERY PLAY: 39.6 😳 pic.twitter.com/zVGWZvmAGZ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 1, 2025
Still considered to be one of the most athletic and elusive pass throwers in the NFL, Kyler Murray will still hold plenty of value if the Cardinals make him available. There will be a handful of QB-needy teams around the league next spring, and the Vikings could be one of the teams that is first in line to send Arizona an offer.
For a team like Minnesota, which already has weapons and some offensive structure, Murray’s mobility and big-play potential could unlock an explosive offense if coached and protected properly. He is a proven runner from the quarterback position, which would bring an added dimension to the team that O’Connell could help maximize.
Murray Would Be A High-Risk, High-Reward For Minnesota
Opting to bring in a veteran instead of grooming yet another young prospect would be beneficial for optics, too. There are questions surrounding superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson and his potential frustration with the franchise, which stems from the recent poor QB play.
The team could quiet the trade rumors by acquiring Murray, keeping them from having to retool their passing game completely. It would also be a vote of confidence in the current regime, which would give the fans a reason to keep believing, and thus, keep buying tickets.
I’m sorry king 💔 pic.twitter.com/44KrnVITmJ
— PurpleReignVikings (@reign_vikings) November 30, 2025
A potential deal would come with risks, though. Murray’s contract is large, and even with a restructure, it might hamper future flexibility. Trading for him probably costs a high draft pick, perhaps a first-rounder, which hurts if they want to rebuild surrounding roster areas.
The move could signal “all in”, which requires commitment from the team and patience from fans. If results don’t materialize quickly, it’ll raise even bigger questions and could even bring O’Connell’s job security into question.
All told, the idea of Minnesota acquiring Kyler Murray will be one of the more compelling “what-if” scenarios in the 2026 offseason.
