The Minnesota Vikings have checked the biggest offseason box. Longtime Arizona Cardinals starting quarterback Kyler Murray joined the club for the 2026 campaign, signing a one-year contract with the organization.

That deal is cheap, as expected, but it comes with one asterisk that could come into play next offseason.

According to various reports, Murray’s contract includes a no-tag clause.

Jordan Schultz reported on social media, “BREAKING: 2x Pro Bowl QB Kyler Murray is signing with the #Vikings, per sources. One big detail: I’m told Murray’s agent, Erik Burkhardt of RocNationSport, negotiated a no-tag clause in the deal — which will allow Murray to become a free agent again next year no matter what.”

Murray will cost the Vikings the veteran minimum, $1.3 million to be exact. They benefit from Arizona paying about $35 million in 2026. In today’s NFL, where starting quarterbacks get north of $40 million, that’s one of the best bargain deals in all of football.

The no-tag clause is smart business from Murray’s agent. If he’s balling out in the upcoming season, he wants to secure a long-term deal, not a franchise tag with just one year of security. The Indianapolis Colts just used the transition tag on Daniel Jones. Perhaps even a better comparison would be Sam Darnold.

If Murray scores 35 touchdowns en route to a Pro Bowl season, a player with his track record and talent would undeniably cash in next offseason. The Vikings could use the franchise tag to prevent him from ever reaching free agency. Well, that idea is kaput.

No-tag clauses are rare but not unheard of in short-term quarterback deals. They provide leverage for players who view a contract as a bridge opportunity rather than a long-term commitment. In Murray’s case, the clause effectively guarantees he will control his next move in 2027 if his season in Minnesota goes well. For the Vikings, it represents a calculated risk — but one that becomes easier to accept given the extremely low financial commitment. They can still give him a contract extension.

The very minimal baseline for “good results” should be improved quarterback play compared to the 2025 season. J.J. McCarthy struggled all year with injuries and inconsistent play, and neither Carson Wentz nor Max Brosmer delivered inspiring play when given the chances.

Murray represents an immediate upgrade with two Pro Bowls on his résumé. Injuries have slowed him down in recent years, but the level of play is undoubtedly there.

Our own Dustin Baker commented on Murray’s track record:

“The Vikings are not onboarding an honest-to-goodness reclamation story in Murray; he’s different than the aforementioned Darnold, who had accomplished virtually nothing until he arrived in Minnesota for the 2024 season.”

Indeed, Murray has already been viewed as a franchise quarterback, which is why the Cardinals handed him a sweet contract in 2022. Darnold’s Minnesota chapter was the fourth stop in his career.

“Murray,” Baker continued, “has started 74% of all eligible games in his career, a percentage that would be closer to 80% had the Cardinals not “softly benched” him in 2025. He has the above-listed two Pro Bowls to his name, 4.38 speed coming out of the draft in 2019, can throw the football 65-70 yards, and is the fifth-most accurate quarterback in NFL history.”

“The 28-year-old also has a 0.090 career EPA+CPOE, ranking better than Baker Mayfield, Trevor Lawrence, Daniel Jones, and C.J. Stroud, to name a few. His career EPA+CPOE closely mirrors Justin Herbert’s from the 2025 campaign.”

Murray enters a wonderful situation from a quarterback’s perspective, with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison running routes for him and a head coach, Kevin O’Connell, who has been touted as a QB whisperer for a while.

The Vikings also have a strong foundation in front of him with two excellent offensive tackles, a promising first-round guard entering his second season and an expensive guard with more familiarity this time. Only the center position is a mystery.

Murray has the talent to thrive in the Twin Cities and he might be in a position to cash in next year. The Vikings won’t have the franchise tag bullet in the chamber, but if that’s even in play, the franchise is likely coming off a good season.

Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.

Janik Eckardt is a German sports nerd, who likes numbers and stats. He chose the Vikings to be his … More about Janik Eckardt

Rory McIlroy recovered sufficiently from a back injury to begin his defence of the Players Championship but he ended round one seven shots off the pace.

The world number two only arrived at TPC Sawgrass on the eve of the PGA Tour’s flagship tournament, having opted to stay at home for treatment on the injury that forced him to pull out of last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

He showed no obvious signs of discomfort in crushing his opening drive 329 yards down the middle of the fairway, but he took 73 more shots for a two-over par total, with birdie putts on the 16th and 17th holes grazing the edge of the cup.

“It was fine,” he said when asked how his back felt during the round.

“The most discomfort was when the ball was below my feet or with chipping.

“But it’s weird. I played on Friday; it’s not as if I’ve taken a ton of time off, I just felt unbelievably rusty out there.”

McIlroy’s Ryder Cup team-mate Sepp Straka is alongside three Americans setting the clubhouse pace on five under.

Austrian Straka chipped in for an eagle three on the par-five 16th in his bogey-free 67 to join Maverick McNealy, Lee Hodges and Sahith Theegala atop the leaderboard.

“We were fortunate to play in the afternoon with hardly any wind and the greens a lot softer,” said Straka, referring to the heavy rain that doused the course earlier in the day.

England’s Tommy Fleetwood was among those playing in the worst of the weather. He briefly reached five under, after a run of eagle-birdie-birdie on Sawgrass’ notoriously difficult 16th, 17th and 18th holes. He called it a “complete bonus of a stretch” of holes.

Having started on the 10th, the world number three then birdied the second but a torrential downpour that halted play for around 25 minutes checked his momentum, and successive bogeys on the fourth and fifth holes dropped him back into the pack.

He is in good company on three under, with Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg, Norwegian Viktor Hovland and American Xander Schauffele also enjoying solid starts.

The rain delay meant four players were unable to finish their opening rounds as the sun set and darkness fell. Among them is unheralded American Austin Smotherman, who will return on Friday morning to face a 15-foot birdie putt on the ninth hole – his 18th – to take the first-round lead.

In rapidly fading light, Smotherman hit his third shot on the par-five hole into the heart of the green, but while his playing partners opted to finish the hole, he decided to mark his ball and wait for the morning light.

The NASCAR driver market is already drawing attention around Legacy Motor Club’s planned expansion. Team owner Jimmie Johnson confirmed a third full-time entry in the 2027 Cup Series, adding a new seat alongside current drivers Erik Jones (No. 42) and John Hunter Nemechek (No. 43). With several driver contracts ending this year, the upcoming silly season will shape who finally lands the seat.

Legacy Motor Club operates two charters and is set to expand after securing a third charter, currently connected to Rick Ware Racing and leased to RFK Racing. Once that charter returns to the team for the 2027 season, Johnson and the organization will need to identify a driver who fits the long-term plan and aligns with Toyota’s development structure.

The broader silly season picture also involves several young drivers in development programs. Prospects such as Taylor Gray, Giovanni Ruggiero, and William Sawalich are building experience in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, while Cup drivers like Josh Berry remain under contract. That makes the third Legacy seat an intriguing storyline that requires a Toyota-aligned free agent.

3 NASCAR drivers who could drive for Legacy Motor Club’s third car in 2027

#3 Jesse Love

One of the names frequently linked to the possible seat is Jesse Love, a rising prospect within Richard Childress Racing. The reigning O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion has been competing full-time in the No. 2 car and continues to build experience at NASCAR’s second-tier level while also making limited Cup Series starts in the No. 33 car.

Love is entering his third full-time O’Reilly season in 2026, and many within the garage see him as ready for a full-time Cup opportunity soon. However, his immediate future will depend on decisions within RCR’s Cup lineup, where Austin Dillon drives the No. 3 car, and Kyle Busch occupies the No. 8 entry.

With Busch’s contract up at the end of 2026, and the veteran being winless in almost three years, RCR may choose to promote its top prospect. If Love receives an in-house opportunity, Legacy would likely need to look elsewhere. If Busch continues, Love might look at Legacy Motor Club.

#2 Harrison Burton

Another name gaining traction in the rumor mill is Harrison Burton. The second-generation driver previously competed in the Cup Series with Wood Brothers Racing in 2024 and qualified for the playoffs after winning the 2024 summer Daytona race. Burton has since stepped back to the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.

Burton also has existing ties to Legacy Motor Club. He currently serves as a reserve driver for the organization and has returned to the Toyota camp by racing with Sam Hunt Racing. That alignment with Toyota’s development system and familiarity with the Legacy make him an obvious internal option.

#1 Riley Herbst

Riley Herbst is another driver who could emerge as a candidate depending on how the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season unfolds. He competes for 23XI Racing, joining as a rookie in 2025. His first season showed promise, including a P9 at Talladega, but consistency has been an issue.

The larger factor affecting Herbst’s future could be the rise of Toyota prospect Corey Heim. The reigning Truck Series champion is widely viewed as one of the most Cup-ready drivers in Toyota’s pipeline and is set to make 12 appearances this year. With Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick firmly established, Herbst’s seat could become vulnerable if Heim receives a full-time promotion.

In that scenario, moving to another Toyota-aligned team like Legacy Motor Club would provide Herbst with a realistic path to remain in the NASCAR Cup Series while continuing his development.