One Man Pounds the Table for Vikings QB
Some members of the NFL community perceive Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray as an aloof player of video games who’s too lazy to put in the work required to be an elite quarterback. Chase Edmonds, a former running back teammate of Murray’s, is not one of them.
Murray expected to thrive in Minnesota’s setup, per Edmonds.
Edmonds and Murray crossed paths in three seasons down in Arizona.
A Former Teammate Sees Murray Ready for a Big Vikings Run
Edmonds told all this week regarding Murray to Arizona Cardinals-themed reporter Kyle Odegard.
Edmonds on Murray
Count Edmonds in as a fan of Murray. He told Odegard last week, “Look, I have never once questioned Kyler Murray’s work ethic. I know the work he puts in day in and day out to be prepared at the highest level. You know Kyler. You know his dad’s high expectations. When it comes to the clause, I wasn’t there, so I don’t know what happened. I had been gone for a year.”
“For the Minnesota fans, I would just say that they are going to get the best version of Kyler Murray, one the NFL has not seen. When Kyler Murray first entered the NFL, he never experienced adversity. When you finally experience that adversity this late in your career? This version of Kyler, he’s going to be more motivated than he’s ever been in his entire life.”
Murray averages about 4,000 passing yards, 600 rushing yards, and 30 total touchdowns every 17 starts.
Edmonds continued, “Kevin O’Connell is going to show Kyler football through a different lens he has not been shown before. I have that much admiration for how K.O.C. runs his offense. I think it’s going to be a perfect match in Minnesota.”
“I think they have the best overall coaching staff in the NFL with K.O.C. and Brian Flores. There is no better coaching staff. They are going to be as prepared as anybody week in and week out in the NFL.”
“The Clause”
When Murray signed his monster extension — $230.5 million over five years — in 2022, the Cardinals infamously wiggled a “study hall” clause into the deal, insisting Murray carve out time to study game film and his playbook.
The clause was unprecedented, and after drawing fire from the general public, Arizona’s brass removed it. Still, the damage had been done, with the world believing that Murray lacked the drive to be great because — why else would a franchise insert such a stipulation into a ginormous contract?
Murray is also a video game lover, so couple that hobby with a study clause, and the narrative is out there that he’s not as dedicated to his craft as he should be.
Naturally, Edmonds disagrees.
A Chance to Change the Narrative in Minnesota
Thankfully, Murray gets a shot at changing everything with the Vikings. There is no study clause; he’s removed from one of the reputationally worst organizations in sports, and at the ripe old age of 2028, Murray is still very much in his physical prime.
The man is already a two-time Pro Bowler and has every physical tool — except for the prototypical quarterback height — to succeed. There’s a reason the Cardinals selected him first overall in the 2019 NFL Draft while booting Josh Rosen, a 1st-Rounder in 2018, from the roster: Murray’s talents are not questioned. He’s faster than Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison; he’s the fifth-most accurate quarterback in NFL history; he can fling the ball 70 yards.
Minnesota is his chance at a Drew Brees-like change of scenery.
The Weapons and Defense to Do It
Murray is entering the best situation of his career. The aforementioned Flores has built a defense that has finished top three in the league in both EPA per play and DVOA for two consecutive seasons, meaning Minnesota won’t need Murray to single-handedly carry the team, a luxury he rarely experienced in Arizona.
The offensive support is also considerable. With Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, Jordan Mason, and potentially a rookie running back acquired in the draft, Murray will have a better set of weapons than most quarterbacks enjoy.
Finally, there’s Kevin O’Connell. Having already elevated the play of Sam Darnold, Kirk Cousins, Josh Dobbs, and Nick Mullens, the pairing of O’Connell with a quarterback as talented as Murray has significant potential.
Edmonds added about Murray and the Vikings, “I think they can win the NFC North, and I’m going to be real. I think Kyler Murray is going to win Comeback Player of the Year. I think he gets back to the Pro Bowl. I think he really reminds people of just how talented he is.”
Vikings fans will welcome these outcomes.
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