Questions Answered: Kyler Murray + Vikings Trade, Caleb Williams, Greg Joseph in GB
Dustin Baker
|
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the March 26th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Questions Answered: Kyler Murray + Vikings Trade, Caleb Williams, Greg Joseph in GB
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Q: I read the ESPN thing from the former GM about Kyler Murray to the Vikings. Could that really happen?
Answer: No, probably not.
Former New York Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum published a mock draft this week featuring a Kyler Murray trade to the Vikings. He explained his thought process, “From the Vikings’ standpoint, everything I said earlier about Murray’s durability still matters, but he’s cheaper and younger than Kirk Cousins would have been to re-sign and gives them a chance to compete this season rather than rebuild.”
Tannenbaum sent Murray and a 3rd-Rounder to the Vikings for the 11th overall pick.
The trade idea wouldn’t work for two reasons:
- The Cardinals would be on the hook for massive dead cap funds — to the tune of about $40 million.
- The Vikings have to pay Justin Jefferson; if they wanted an expensive quarterback, they would’ve re-signed Cousins.
This one is fun, but it won’t happen.
Q: I heard the Vikings met and had dinner with Caleb Williams. Could there be a huge swerve at the top of the draft?
Answer: Severely unlikely.
The Vikings will probably be holders of a Top 5 draft pick at some point during the event, and meeting with Williams in any capacity is simply diligence.
The Bears will draft Williams, and that’ll be that.
Q: Will Greg Joseph be the Packers’ main kicker in 2024?
A: He has to win the job; it’s not a sure thing.
Joseph’s agent, Brett Tessler, tweeted Tuesday, “The Green Bay Packers are signing my client Greg Joseph who kicked for the Minnesota Vikings the past 3 seasons. Holds the NFL record for game-winners in a season (5), Vikings record for longest FG (61 yds), & led NFL in TB% in ’21. Had other interest but liked this opportunity.”
So, yes — he’s a Packer, for sure.
Green Bay now has three kickers on its roster — all with connections to the Vikings. Joseph, obviously, played for Minnesota in the last three seasons, securing the kicker job longer than most amid the last decade of Vikings football. The Packers also employ Anders Carlson, a rookie last year, who is the brother of former Vikings kicker Daniel Carlson. And the other guy, Jack Podlesny, was an undrafted free agent signed by Minnesota in 2023.
Joseph must defeat Carlson, the incumbent, and Podlesny for the Packers’ main kicking job. It’s not a shoo-in.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.