Cardinals Release Kyler Murray; Vikings Frontrunners To Add QB
11:25pm: Following news that the Vikings are the favorite for Murray, the team will indeed be hosting the QB on a visit tomorrow, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
3:08pm: The 2026 league year has started — precisely one minute ago. The Cardinals did not waste any time; the team announced its Kyler Murray release.
This concludes a seven-year chapter, one that ended as most expected it to. The Cardinals now have Gardner Minshew on the roster, accompanying Jacoby Brissett. This will be a post-June 1 cut, which will help Arizona cap-wise. Teams cannot announce post-June 1 cuts until this afternoon, explaining the delay on the long-expected Murray release.
With $36.8MM guaranteed to a quarterback coming off a five-game season and trending downward, the Cardinals were never viewed as having a realistic chance to reach their goal of trading Murray. Connected frequently to the Vikings, Murray may well be headed north as a free agent soon.
Minnesota is viewed as the favorite to land the former No. 1 overall pick, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero report. This is not especially surprising, as Murray has been connected to Minnesota for months. A recent report suggested the 28-year-old passer is eyeing in the Vikings, who have been tied to interest here — as Murray will likely be available for the veteran minimum thanks to the nature of his Arizona exit.
The Cardinals, Jets (Geno Smith) and Dolphins (Malik Willis) have made starter-level quarterback additions, the Vikings have refrained. Murray looks likely to be Minnesota’s J.J. McCarthy competition, though the two-time Pro Bowler is a more talented player and would be favored to start in 2026. The Vikes are walking a tightrope here, as our Adam La Rose discussed in his most recent mailbag. They are still tethered to McCarthy’s development while understandably wanting a potentially better option after concerning 2025 play from the top-10 pick. Murray will be looking to bounce back after a lost 2025.
Minnesota used the No. 10 overall pick on McCarthy but lost him to a season-nullifying injury last year. A high ankle sprain shelved McCarthy for a chunk of the season last year, and given the Michigan alum’s early-season struggles, rumblings the Vikings were giving him time to reset emerged. When McCarthy replaced Carson Wentz around midseason, he was wildly inconsistent. The team saw 2024 starter Sam Darnold pilot the Seahawks to a Super Bowl win, and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has since been fired. Quarterback issues undoubtedly played a key role in the four-year GM’s ouster.
Murray played under Drew Petzing, an ex-Kevin Stefanski assistant. Stefanski’s past under Gary Kubiak ties Kevin O’Connell — a Sean McVay disciple — to the same sturdy Mike Shanahan coaching tree. This would stand to make a Murray-Minnesota transition easier, but the diminutive QB’s best work came under Kliff Kingsbury earlier in his career.
O’Connell rehabilitated Darnold’s career in 2024, overseeing a Pro Bowl nod after coaxing quality play from Kirk Cousins before his October 2023 Achilles tear. Murray, who booked original-ballot Pro Bowl invites in 2020 and ’21, has displayed quality work as a passer and runner but has been inconsistent. He was not playing especially well before a December 2022 ACL tear, which came after he signed a five-year, $230.5MM Cardinals extension. The Cards held off on redeploying Murray until midway through the 2023 season, and while Murray ranked ninth in QBR in 2024 — a 17-game season — more injury trouble intervened as the QB was struggling yet again.
Averaging just 6.0 yards per attempt through five games under Petzing in 2025, Murray went down with a foot injury and never returned. The Cardinals looked ready to move Murray back into the starting lineup later in the season, but an about-face led to a shutdown.
The Cardinals’ previous regime had authorized the five-year extension, and the deal brought an advanced guarantee for 2026. Murray remaining on Arizona’s roster by mid-March of 2025 guaranteed his ’26 salary, leading to this post-June 1 designation.
The Cardinals will take a $47.1MM dead money hit in 2026 as a result of the Murray release, though OverTheCap lists the signal-caller’s 2027 dead cap number at $7.2MM. Should that split hold true, Arizona’s new coaching staff will feel some pain this season before seeing considerable relief in Year 2. The Cardinals do not have an inspiring QB setup presently, with Minshew and Brissett bridge types (at best). But they are getting out of the big-ticket QB-contract business after nearly four years.
Atlanta already took advantage of a post-June 1 designation by scooping up Tua Tagovailoa on what is expected to be a veteran-minimum deal. Murray is expected to be available, as Wilson was in 2024 with Pittsburgh, for the vet minimum. That could bring value for the Vikings, though the former Heisman winner is expected to be patient before committing, as this bounce-back opportunity will help determine if his career has a positive second act.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/11/26
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Re-signed: RB Zonovan Knight
- Signed: LS Casey Kreiter
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: C Corey Levin, LB Channing Tindall
Carolina Panthers
- Re-signed: DE Trevis Gipson, TE James Mitchell
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: TE Jack Stoll
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: LB Tyrus Wheat
Denver Broncos
- Re-signed: FB Adam Prentice
Green Bay Packers
- Re-signed: OLB Brenton Cox, DT Jonathan Ford
Los Angeles Chargers
- Re-signed: LS Josh Harris
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: S Zayne Anderson, TE Ben Sims
New England Patriots
- Signed: S Mike Brown, TE Julian Hill
New York Giants
- Re-signed: LB Zaire Barnes
New York Jets
- Re-signed: OT Max Mitchell
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Re-signed: OL Jack Driscoll
San Francisco 49ers
- Re-signed: RB Patrick Taylor
Seattle Seahawks
- Re-signed: LS Chris Stoll
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DE Malik Herring
Cardinals, Andrew Wingard Agree To Deal
The Cardinals are on track to lose Jalen Thompson in free agency, but a replacement has been lined up. Andrew Wingard has agreed to a one-year deal with a base value of $3MM and a maximum of $4MM, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports.
A former UDFA out of Wyoming, Wingard emerged as a key defender for the Jaguars. He spent his entire seven-year career in Jacksonville, collecting 349 tackles and six interceptions. He often alternated between the starting lineup and the bench during his time with the organization, and his snap count tended to correspond to his role.
He started all 15 of his appearances in 2021, getting into 95 percent of his team’s defensive snaps. Over the next three years, he only started seven of his 42 appearances while appearing in less than half of his team’s defensive reps. He also missed the first few months of the 2024 campaign thanks to a knee injury.
With a new staff in place in 2025, Wingard returned to the starting lineup. He started all 16 of his appearances, compiling 84 tackles, one interception, and nine passes defended. Pro Football Focus only ranked him 72nd among 91 qualifying safeties, although they did give him one of the highest positional grades for his run-stopping ability.
Wingard could retain his starting gig in Arizona, but there’s a chance he returns to a reserve role. While the team lost Thompson, they still have Budda Baker and Rabbit Taylor-Demerson to lead the depth chart. That means the newest addition could find himself competing with the likes of Kitan Crawford for any leftover reps.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Cardinals To Sign OL Matt Pryor
After returning to Philly for the 2025 campaign, Matt Pryor will be playing elsewhere in 2026. The veteran offensive lineman is signing with the Cardinals, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
Pryor is inking a one-year deal with his new squad, per Garafolo. The lineman has inked one-year pacts in each of the past five offseasons.
The TCU product started his career in Philly back in 2018. The sixth-round pick emerged as a key backup during his sophomore season, starting 10 games while filling in at both guard spots and right tackle. The Eagles were quick to bail, however, sending him to the Colts for a late-round swap in 2021.
He ended up spending two seasons in Indy, starting 14 of his 33 games. He’s now set to join his fourth squad in four years after stints with the 49ers (2023), Bears (2024), and Eagles (2025). He got into 17 games during his return to Philly, although he was limited to only 122 offensive snaps.
Pryor has spent most of his career at the guard spots, but he probably would only serve as a reserve behind Isaac Seumalo and Evan Brown in Arizona. He could be a candidate for a starting OT spot with Kelvin Beachum hitting free agency and Jonah Williams struggling during his Cardinals tenure.
QB Kyler Murray Could Be Patient In Free Agency
MARCH 10: Murray has yet to formally be released, nor have the Cardinals publicly confirmed they will do so at this point. That should change tomorrow, but it remains to be seen how quickly Murray will act upon becoming a free agent. In any event, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network confirms (video link) the Vikings remain the “favorite” with respect to Murray’s destination at this point.
MARCH 8: Once Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray landed on injured reserve this year having only played five games, two years after being limited to only eight games, Arizona decisionmakers were forced to broach the topic of reevaluating the future of the franchise. As the season progressed without Murray, all signs started pointing to his eventual departure from Arizona. The lack of robust trade interest in Murray led to the conclusion that the team would plan to release him to free agency. 
With his likely future set to begin later this week, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Murray “could choose to be methodical in picking his destination” once free agency opens up. There are multiple free agent and draft options available to teams looking to fill out their roster at quarterback, and at some point, those team’s roster spots will be filled. There’s certainly strategy in working to lock down a spot to make sure one has a guaranteed job and contract, but there’s strategy, too, in being reactive to the moves that get made in order to ensure that one has the most information possible on a potential decision.
There will likely be teams — and there have already been a few for Murray — who will make their interest known loudly, publicly. Once the opportunity to communicate opens up, those teams could come hard and fast to display just how interested they are in a prospect. They may offer a contract big enough to convince a player to abandon his plans to look around and test the market. Then, once they’ve locked the player into a contract, the situation that was promised to that player may end up getting altered. The general idea of this would be similar to what happened with the Falcons and Kirk Cousins. Though, that wasn’t a necessarily quick courtship, Cousins signed under the impression that he was the only guy at quarterback moving forward, then the Falcons went and spent a first-round pick to draft Michael Penix.
Murray could, instead, be more patient and reactive. Once officially released from his contract in Arizona, Murray can start taking visits. We’ve known Minnesota to be an interested party as they seek competition for starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy. It was reported as recently as yesterday that the Jets were also showing interest, and Fowler mentions the Colts and Falcons as possibilities, as well, due to their current statuses with injured passers who may not be ready to start the season.
By being patient, Murray can take the time to truly consider team fit and city fit, instead of letting dollars and cents be the main factor of the decision-making process. The money is important, too, though, and seeing what other veteran free agents are signing for could help Murray leverage a better free agent deal for himself instead of being the one who acts first and sets the market. He also has a bit of freedom in what kind of contracts he can ask for, given he’s still due to receive a good amount from guarantees in his contract from Arizona. He’ll be able to see which teams really want him and which just really need a body to fill the room. Perhaps he’ll be open to joining the Vikings, Colts, or Falcons, who have talented rosters but eventual competition at quarterback, or perhaps he’ll desire a job with a team that needs more work as long as it provides him a secure starting opportunity.
Free agency could go in a lot of different directions once it really opens up this week. It will be interesting to see how quickly Kyler moves in his first bout with free agency. He may subject himself to a bidding war and go with the highest bidder early, or he may be slower and more deliberate in his approach to finding a new home.
Cardinals To Sign WR Kendrick Bourne
The Cardinals are making another addition in free agency. Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne is headed to Arizona on a two-year, $11.47MM deal, per NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe, with an additional $5MM available in incentives.
Bourne, 30, appeared in 16 games for the 49ers in 2025, his second stint in San Francisco. He filled key snaps in the receiver rotation during the team’s injuries at the position and finished the year with 37 catches for 551 yards. Those numbers represented somewhat of a bounce-back for Bourne after three straight seasons in New England with fewer than 450 receiving yards.
The 49ers were interested in retaining Bourne with the Dolphins also competing for his signature, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz. Instead, he will land in Arizona under new head coach Mike LaFleur, where he will be catching passes from Jacoby Brissett or Gardner Minshew. Bourne will join a young Cardinals wide receiver room headlined by 2024 No. 4 pick Marvin Harrison, who has disappointed in his first two years in the NFL, and Michael Wilson, who put forth a surprising 1,006-yard campaign in 2025.
Bourne’s experience will round out that group. The nine-year veteran first joined the 49ers as an undrafted rookie out of Eastern Washington in 2017. He carved out a consistent role in the next four years and signed with the Patriots in 2021. After a 800-yard debut in New England, Bourne’s numbers decreased in his next three seasons, leading to his release last offseason. A reunion with the 49ers helped Bourne revive his value, and he will now remain in the NFC West to play his former team twice a year.
Cardinals To Sign DT Roy Lopez
Following a one-season stop in Detroit, Roy Lopez is heading back to Arizona. The Cardinals have agreed to a contract with the free agent defensive tackle, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
It will be a two-year deal for Lopez, according to Rapoport. The contract is worth $11.5MM, including $7MM guaranteed.
Lopez inked a one-year, $4.65MM deal with the Lions last offseason. While he didn’t start any of his 17 games, he still got into about 40 percent of Detroit’s defensive snaps. The 28-year-old ended up finishing the season with 30 tackles and two sacks, with Pro Football Focus grading him 33rd among 127 qualifying interior defenders.
After spending two seasons in Houston to begin his career, Lopez spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons in Arizona. After starting five of his 14 appearances during his first year with the organization, he started all 16 of his games in 2024. He ended up finishing his first Cardinals stint with 70 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble.
Now, Lopez is back in Arizona, where he should play a significant role on the Cardinals defensive line. The team already moved on from Dalvin Tomlinson, who accounted for 555 snaps in Arizona last season. Lopez will likely soak up those snaps while joining Dante Stills and Darius Robinson as the team’s DT trio.
Cardinals To Sign G Isaac Seumalo
It’s uncertain who will be under center for the Cardinals to begin the 2026 campaign, but the team is adding some certainty on the offensive line. The team has agreed to a deal with free agent guard Isaac Seumalo, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
It’s a three-year, $31.5MM deal for the recent Steelers starter, per Rapoport.
A 2016 third-round pick, Seumalo had a long stint in Philly to begin his career. The lineman spent seven seasons with the Eagles, although much of his tenure was highlighted by injury. He was limited to only 12 combined appearances between 2020 and 2021, but he did rebound with a 17-game showing in 2022.
He ended up parlaying that performance into a three-year, $24MM deal with the Steelers in 2023, and he remained relatively healthy during his tenure with the team. Seumalo missed only seven regular season games across his three campaigns in Pittsburgh, and he earned a Pro Bow nod during his second year with the organization. He continued his production in 2025, with Pro Football Focus grading him 16th among 79 qualifying guards.
Now, he’ll be taking his talents to Arizona. Evan Brown seems to have a firm hold on the LG gig in Arizona, meaning Seumalo will likely bump Isaiah Adams out of the RG job. However, the Cardinals offensive line remains in flux. Tackles Jonah Williams and Kelvin Beachum are free agents, as is oft-injured guard Will Hernandez.
Cardinals To Re-Sign DL L.J. Collier
L.J. Collier is once again re-signing with the Cardinals. The defensive lineman is signing a new one-year deal with Arizona, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
This is the fourth-straight offseason that Collier is inking a one-year deal with the Cardinals. This newest pact will pay the veteran $2.5MM, per Fowler.
A former first-round pick by the Seahawks, Collier only lasted four seasons in Seattle. He spent only one of those campaigns as a full-time starter, and he finished that 2020 campaign with 22 stops and three sacks. Otherwise, Collier didn’t start any of his other 29 appearances with the organization.
He joined the Cardinals ahead of the 2023 campaign but was limited to a single game after suffering a season-ending biceps injury in Week 1. He returned in 2024 and had his most productive NFL season, finishing with 29 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 17 games (15 starts). After re-signing with the Cardinals last offseason, Collier suffered a knee injury in Week 2. He returned towards the end of the regular season and ultimately finished the campaign with only four appearances.
The Cardinals will surely be hoping for improved health from the defensive lineman in 2026. Fellow defensive lineman Calais Campbell is also a free agent, so perhaps Collier could be in line for more work depending on the outcome of free agency.
Cardinals To Sign QB Gardner Minshew
Nomadic quarterback Gardner Minshew has found his sixth NFL team. Minshew will sign a one-year, $8.25MM contract with the Cardinals, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
A 47-game starter over his seven-year career, Minshew may be in the mix for playing time in Arizona. The Cardinals are moving on from longtime starter Kyler Murray, whom they plan to release. Journeyman Jacoby Brissett is on the roster as a de facto starter, but he could draw trade interest.
A 2019 sixth-rounder from Washington State, Minshew unexpectedly worked as the Jaguars’ primary starter in his rookie season. Nick Foles entered the year as the starter, but Minshew stepped in after he broke his clavicle in the opener. Foles returned later in the season, though he struggled enough that Minshew reclaimed the starting role.
While Minshew combined for 20 starts over his first two seasons, the Jaguars went just 7-13 during that stretch. Shortly before the 2021 season started, the Jags dealt Minshew to the Eagles for a sixth-round pick.
After two seasons as Philadelphia’s backup, Minshew signed a one-year, $3.5MM deal with the Colts to join first-round rookie Anthony Richardson in 2023. With multiple injuries limiting Richardson to four games, Minshew performed well over 13 starts. The Colts remained committed to Richardson, though, leading Minshew to accept the Raiders’ two-year, $25MM offer in 2024.
Even though Minshew went into ’24 as the Raiders’ starter, he was unable to hold the job for the whole year. The Raiders released Minshew after a disappointing season. He stayed in the AFC West to work as the Chiefs’ backup behind Patrick Mahomes last year. Mahomes suffered a torn ACL in Week 15, which could have given Minshew a chance to start for the rest of the season. However, making his first Chiefs start against the Titans the next week, Minshew went down with what was believed to be an ACL tear. It turned out to be a non-displaced tibial plateau fracture.
Minshew was reportedly back to full health as of three weeks ago. The 29-year-old will now catch on with the Cardinals as the owner of a career 63.1% completion rate with 68 touchdowns, 35 interceptions and an 88.0 passer rating over 63 games.