Bleacher Report Pumps the Brakes on Vikings’ Juicy Trade Idea
The Minnesota Vikings may inquire about Kyler Murray’s trade price this offseason, seeking to enhance the quarterback room after J.J. McCarthy’s rocky first two seasons in the NFL. Bleacher Report, on the other hand, has officially advised against it.
Chatter may keep pushing Murray toward Minnesota, but the fit just isn’t wise, says Bleacher Report.
That website recently published an article about the best and worst landing spots for quarterbacks in the upcoming carousel, explaining that Murray to Minnesota is a bad idea.
Bleacher Report Pushes Back on the Murray Angle
Consider this your national media warning about Murray.
BR on Murray to MIN
Sizing up passers like Justin Fields, Daniel Jones, Aaron Rodgers, and Murray, BR’s Kristopher Knox decided that Murray to Minnesota was a bad fit.
He explained, “As previously noted, the Vikings may want to bring in a veteran to push McCarthy or provide insurance at a minimum. Minnesota certainly won’t trade for Murray, but would it consider adding him as a bargain-bin free agent? It shouldn’t.”
“And Murray shouldn’t want to join the Vikings, even though they have a QB-friendly coach in O’Connell and talented pass-catchers like Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. While O’Connell helped rebuild QBs like Darnold and Jones, his system is better suited for a traditional dropback passer, which Murray is not.”
Murray missed most of 2025 with a foot injury, while many speculated that he had been “softly benched” by the Cardinals in favor of Jacoby Brissett. The Cardinals’ coaching staff and front office did little to refute the theory.
“Despite having a much longer NFL resume, Murray might actually have a difficult time beating out McCarthy for the starting job — especially since the Vikings will go with the guy in whom they’re invested if things are close,” Knox continued.
“And if Murray can’t beat out an injury-prone and inconsistent McCarthy, his time as an NFL starter could be over.”
Yes, that’s cold water poured all over one of the Vikings’ most popular quarterback theories this offseason.
Spoiler Alert: Murray Would Beat McCarthy in Camp Battle
Knox’s assumption that Murray would lose a training camp battle to McCarthy … is something. Murray is the fifth-most accurate quarterback in NFL history, and his skill set actually outshines McCarthy’s. McCarthy only bests Murray in one attribute: size. McCarthy is 6’3″ and 220 pounds. Murray is 5’10” and 210 pounds.
But if McCarthy wanted to engage in contests over arm strength, speed, etc., Murray would likely win those.
Moreover, the Vikings would not add Murray’s $46 million-per-year contract during the offseason just to bench him in the fall. That’s not how wise business works. If Minnesota trades for Murray or signs him after a Cardinals release, he should be interpreted as the Week 1 starter.
Pocket Passer Preference?
While it’s true that Kevin O’Connell generally prefers a pocket passer like Kirk Cousins or Sam Darnold, that does not mean that he would balk at Murray’s mobility and speed.
When Cousins tore his Achilles in 2023, Minnesota turned to Joshua Dobbs for a few games, and that sparked a national phenomenon. Dobbs is not a pocket passer. And pigeonholing Murray into a non-pocket-passer is a bit silly. He’s not Joe Webb. He can stand in the pocket and fling with the rest of the league’s pocket passers.
What the Vikings need is an accurate quarterback who can win and stay healthy. If Murray doesn’t have the scouting report of a statuesque pocket passer, nobody will care, especially not Minnesota’s brass.
BR All Smiles on Kirk Cousins, Aaron Rodgers to Vikings
After claiming Murray to Minnesota would not be smart, Knox stepped up to the plate to endorse Cousins and Rodgers to the Vikings as a “best fit.”
On Cousins, he explained, “The Falcons could use an insurance policy, and Stefanski previously coached Cousins with the Minnesota Vikings.”
“The Vikings, though, would actually provide a better landing spot for Cousins, assuming they don’t trust J.J. McCarthy, who struggled through injuries in 2025. Minnesota has an excellent receiving corps, and Cousins had his last Pro Bowl campaign under Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell.”
And on Rodgers, who may or may not retire: “Rodgers helped the Steelers reach the playoffs this past season. However, their postseason run ended with a thud, and he hasn’t committed to what he’ll do in 2026. Right now, retirement or a return to Pittsburgh appear to be the two likeliest options.”
“As The Athletic‘s Mike DeFabo recently noted, though, joining Minnesota could also be in the cards. If O’Connell wants McCarthy to sit and learn in 2026, Minnesota would be an ideal spot for Rodgers. He’d be a terrific fit for the offense, and would have several great receivers at his disposal. He’d also have a shot to push the Vikings back in contention and possibly end his career with a playoff win.”
The Cardinals should have a decision on Murray’s future by early March.
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