One Kyler Murray stat proves how badly the Arizona Cardinals fumbled and the Minnesota Vikings are benefiting
When the Minnesota Vikings signed Kyler Murray in free agency, it was a no-brainer. They needed help at the quarterback position and he came at the veteran minimum. You can’t get any less expensive than that. The real discussion point was focused on the Cardinals moving on from him. They are eating nearly $40 million […]
When the Minnesota Vikings signed Kyler Murray in free agency, it was a no-brainer. They needed help at the quarterback position and he came at the veteran minimum. You can’t get any less expensive than that.
The real discussion point was focused on the Cardinals moving on from him. They are eating nearly $40 million in base salary, and $46,568,966 overall this season. Why did they move on? It’s a multi-faceted discussion rooted mostly in money, success, and a new regime wanting a clean slate to build upon.
Kyler Murray propped up the Arizona Cardinals
When you look at what Murray did in Arizona, it’s important to understand a couple of factors. One of them being that he propped up an organization that at it’s best is dysfunctional. The other is how little success they have had without him.
Since tearing his ACL in 2022, Murray has as many wins as the Vikings’ starter than the Cardinals have without him.
It seems like an absurd stat right? Well, it’s not. Using Pro Football Reference, I went back and looked at how the Cardinals have done since the injury. Well, it turns out they have won just three games since then. Colt McCoy did win a start in 2022, but it was with Murray being inactive for two games prior to the torn ACL.
| Year | Kyler Murray Record | Other QBs Record |
| 2022 | 3-8 | 1-5 (0-4 Post ACL) |
| 2023 | 3-5 | 1-8 |
| 2024 | 8-9 | 0-0 |
| 2025 | 2-3 | 1-11 |
| 2026 | 3-0 (With Vikings) | 1-4 |
If you look at Jacoby Brissett, he is 2-15 as the Cardinals’ starter. Murray had two wins in just five starts in 2025. Are we sure that Brissett is better, because that’s the argument some have made going into the season? Well, based on the record, he certainly isn’t elevating them enough.
Questions still exist about whether Murray is good enough to be the guy long-term in Minnesota, which is fair. However, the success we’ve seen so far this season is certainly frustrating for Cardinals fans, as Murray is quarterbacking an undefeated team.
Sometimes, the grass is greener in other pastures, and Murray found that out quickly.
