Vikings shakeup could give Cardinals leverage to move Kyler Murray.

The Minnesota Vikings fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah after a 9-8 season, citing cap-management issues—including roughly $48 million over the cap—and a result that did not meet expectations, even as the team watched the Seattle Seahawks, led by Sam Darnold, reach the Super Bowl LX. The move opens a new era in Minnesota as the club searches for an executive to run its football operations.

The Arizona Cardinals could capitalize on that leadership shakeup, using the off-season to reset leverage in the Kyler Murray trade market. A new Cardinals’ GM would not be tied to committing to JJ McCarthy as the 2026 starter, creating a window to explore major moves without locking into a long-term quarterback plan.

Trading Murray would allow Arizona to reset its cap by saving more than $34 million, enabling a more ambitious off-season while still laying groundwork for the next head coach. With Dante Moore choosing to return to college, there are fewer draft alternatives, which could raise Murray’s value and provide the Cardinals greater bargaining power in any deal.

For Minnesota, the No. 18 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft makes it unlikely they’ll land a quarterback they’re comfortable starting in year one. That forces the Vikings to choose between staying with the draft-relevant McCarthy or pursuing a win-now move at the quarterback position, a decision that could hinge on how the Murray trade market unfolds. In this scenario, a trade could also include salary-cap considerations tied to a post-June 1 deal.

ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss has noted that Murray’s starting price could be around a second-round pick, with some sources suggesting a third-round return as a floor. The Vikings hold the Nos. 49 and 82 picks (second and third rounds) in the 2026 draft, providing room to structure a deal that suits both teams’ cap and roster goals. An alternative path could involve including McCarthy in a post-June 1 trade to spread Murray’s cap hit over two seasons.

Meanwhile, Arizona’s coaching search continues to develop, with a former frontrunner, Mike LaFleur, emerging as a strong candidate. If LaFleur is hired, the Cardinals could pursue a bridge quarterback such as Jimmy Garoppolo, who is currently with the Rams, leveraging shared connections from San Francisco. The MMQB’s Conor Orr and Albert Breer recently predicted LaFleur’s eventual arrival in Arizona, a move that would shape the quarterback transition strategy for the next head coach.