The Minnesota Vikings don’t have their new quarterback yet, and the pool of possibilities is growing smaller by the hour, though a familiar name has re-emerged following a major move elsewhere in the NFL.
Former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith was a strong candidate in Minnesota before the New York Jets, his former franchise and the team that drafted him in 2013, panicked and traded for his contract approximately 24 hours before the Raiders planned to release him.
“If the Jets had waited for him to be released at 4 p.m. Wednesday, they could’ve signed him for $1.3 million, the veterans minimum. But they would’ve faced competition for him,” Rich Cimini of ESPN reported Tuesday, March 10. “The Minnesota Vikings were known to be interested.”
Kevin Siefert, also of ESPN, offered educated speculation on social media that Smith’s newfound unavailability moves Minnesota that much closer to Kyler Murray, though also brings a familiar name back into the mix and ups the chances of a reunion in Minneapolis.
“With the Geno Smith trade to the Jets, the Vikings appear to be the big favorite for Kyler Murray,” Seifert wrote. “Would imagine Kirk Cousins could become an option as well. Both players available tomorrow barring a trade.”
Kyler Murray Not Lock to Land With Vikings Just Yet
GettyQuarterback Kyler Murray of the Arizona Cardinals.
What happened with Smith could conceivably happen with Murray, should some team like the Pittsburgh Steelers come calling to the Arizona Cardinals with a late-round draft pick in hand and a willingness to pick up Murray’s sizable bill for the 2026 season.
As it stands, the Cardinals plan to release Murray Wednesday. He will sign with another team, presumably for the league minimum of $1.3 million, and then Arizona will pay the remaining balance of the roughly $36 million guaranteed on Murray’s contract next season.
That is a huge amount of money to take on, but Murray is also a two-time Pro Bowler who will play next season at 29 years old and could reattain his recent form under the right circumstances.
Pittsburgh is the defending AFC North champions and just spent big on wide receivers DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. in the last two offseasons, respectively. Aaron Rodgers‘ return at age 42 is among the likely outcomes for the Steelers, who have also expressed recent interest in Cousins.
That said, if new head coach Mike McCarthy wants to make a splash, Pittsburgh has the juice to swoop in and steal Murray out from under Minnesota.
Kirk Cousins, JJ McCarthy Could End Up Vikings’ Top 2 QBs Next Season
GettyQuarterback Kirk Cousins, formerly of the Minnesota Vikings.
In that scenario, the Vikings wold have JJ McCarthy entering his third season and would likely revert back to the original plan of bringing in a veteran QB to compete with/push him in training camp, while also serving as a viable QB2/starting option should McCarthy win the job in the preseason but then struggle or battle injury again.
Cousins has always made the most sense under those circumstances, given his experience with Kevin O’Connell’s offense and some of the prominent figures in the organization.
If Murray comes off the board for whatever reason, and with Smith gone to New York, Cousins to Minnesota could end up the natural domino falling at the backend of the league’s 2026 QB carousel.
Cousins is technically still playing on the $180 million deal he signed in Atlanta two years ago, but Minnesota should be able to sign him for the league minimum once the Falcons release him Wednesday.
Vikings Back in Mix for $180 Million QB After Geno Smith Traded to Jets