ESPN Has Curveball Theory for Vikings Offseason
Any chatter regarding the Minnesota Vikings and the 2025 franchise tag process involves quarterback Sam Darnold, at least to date.
ESPN Has Curveball Theory for Vikings Offseason
But thanks to ESPN, cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. might receive the franchise tag, not Darnold.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert explained Monday, “Using the tag on quarterback Sam Darnold would be an expensive way of ensuring his return while avoiding a longer-term commitment that would hinder J.J. McCarthy’s eventual ascension. It could also be a way to elicit additional value by way of a trade, but that would require a knowledge that multiple teams would be willing to bid.”
“In the end, the Vikings seem more likely to let Darnold sign elsewhere and preserve their tag for a player such as cornerback Byron Murphy Jr., who had a career-high six interceptions in 2024 and is hitting his prime at age 27. If nothing else, it would give the Vikings time to sign Murphy to a longer-term deal while keeping him off the market.”
Murphy Jr. feels like a no-brainer to re-sign, mainly because he’s busted into stardom this season. The veteran defender has nabbed 6 interceptions during his second season in Minnesota, along with a fantastic 76.7 passer-rating-against. His next contract’s price tag has skyrocketed accordingly.
It’s worth noting that the franchise-tag angle and Murphy Jr. is new. Anything relating to Minnesota and the tag — if used at all — has lassoed Darnold. The veteran quarterback delivered 36 total touchdowns and 4,319 passing yards in 2024 before disappearing, metaphorically speaking, in the season’s final two games, which were the most important.
An NFL team can use the franchise tag once annually, so it cannot apply to Darnold and Murphy Jr. In fact, the Vikings haven’t used the tag in about five years.
In an interview with KSTP’s Darren Wolfson last summer, Murphy Jr. explained his intent to remain a Viking for the long haul. “I don’t think I’m going anywhere. That’s my mindset. I want to stay; I love this place. Since I’ve been here since day one, I have fallen in love. I want to go nowhere. I want to stay here for the rest of my career. I love these guys in the locker room and the coaching—everything about this place is great. I’m going to work my ass off to stay here,” Murphy Jr. said in June.
ESPN, though, recently suggested that Murphy Jr. could leave the franchise while his safety teammate, Camryn Bynum, could stay.
Seifert is correct, however, that tagging Murphy Jr. could be in play while general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah worked toward a long-term deal. It might even be more likely than Darnold and the tag.
The franchise tag would cost Minnesota about $20 million for Murphy.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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