Why Kyler Murray Would Be Perfect for Vikings
Oddsmakers believe the Minnesota Vikings are the frontrunners to sign free-agent-to-be Kyler Murray, but some of the team’s fans just don’t think it’s a good fit because he’s not the prototypical quarterback for Kevin O’Connell’s offense.
Murray at a bargain price is the whole premise. If he’s actually available for a modest deal, the Vikings should be on the phone immediately.
We say: Who cares?
Signing Murray or Betting Everything on McCarthy?
This is the case for Murray as the Vikings’ quarterback in 2026 if one assumes that O’Connell must win now and thus pump the brakes on J.J. McCarthy as the all-or-nothing long-term starter.
Murray Will Be Mind-Bogglingly Cheap
Because the Cardinals have already paid Murray for his services in 2026, he’s virtually guaranteed to sign with his next team for cheap. If he asked for more money, it would have to exceed the $36.8 million that Arizona is on deck to pay him. That’s just not happening. Murray is basically playing on the Cardinals’ dime in 2026. In 2027 and beyond, he can ask for a new contract from the Vikings or another team.
Signing Murray for $1 million or $2 million bucks is like getting a 2019 Ford Mustang for a few thousand bucks. It doesn’t matter if you like Mustangs; you buy it because the value is right. Flip it if you have to.
There is no better deal in the NFL — maybe in sports — right now than Murray for a couple of million bucks.
The Passing Accuracy
Asked two years ago, ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, which trait is most important for a quarterback, O’Connell said, “I think accuracy is one trait that quarterbacks need to have.”
These are the five most accurate passers in NFL history:
1 — Joe Burrow (68.5%)
2 — Tua Tagovailoa (68.0%)
3 — Drew Brees (67.7%)
4 — Jimmy Garoppolo (67.4%)
5 — Kyler Murray (67.1%)
Murray may be short at 5’11”, but accuracy is not a problem. He would meet O’Connell’s requirement — and actually knock it out of the park. Quarterbacks that accurate do not grow on trees.
The Speed
Entering the NFL in 2019, Murray ran a 4.38 forty. He may not be that fast now at age 28, but he also isn’t slow. He’d instantly add speed to the quarterback position and become the fastest quarterback in Vikings history. He is not a statue in the pocket; Vikings fans have seen that movie before.
For perspective, per the forty time, Murray is faster than Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
Something to Prove
No matter where Murray lands, he will carry a chip on his shoulder. He has the bravado of a first overall pick, but a bottom-tier organization is mere days from giving up on him, unceremoniously kicking him to the curb.
He won’t need a motive to thrive elsewhere. Murray has it; the Cardinals don’t want him. It’s up to him to prove them wrong. It’s built-in fuel to excel with his next squad.
If Sam Darnold Can Do It, So Can Murray
Listen, we are less than one month removed from Sam Darnold winning a Super Bowl —one year away from the Vikings. Before 2024, Darnold was a joke. An actual draft-bust joke.
Murray starts his redemption tour from a space of a “pretty good” quarterback who hasn’t taken his team far into the postseason. Darnold was an outright bum before the Vikings got hold of him. Let’s put this as plain as can be: if Darnold can reclaim his career, you better believe Murray can follow suit.
The Overall Numbers
This is an average season from Murray:
- 3,997 Passing Yards
- 30 Total Touchdowns
- 11 INTs
- 67.1% Completion
- 623 Rushing Yards
No caption needed.
The Cardinals Aren’t a Beacon of NFL Majesty
Murray has spent his career with one team: the Cardinals. He emphatically needs a change of scenery, and he is about to get it.
The NFLPA leaked its annual team report cards last week — after owners said to keep them under wraps — and you’ll never guess the organization with the worst ownership, according to players. Yep, the Cardinals.
Murray should be counting his lucky stars that he’s leaving the franchise with the worst ownership. Let’s see how he does outside of putrid ownership.
Starting Over in 2027 If Everything Is Bad
Minnesota has already bungled its competitive rebuild process from 2022 to 2024. Do you need proof? The owners fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on January 30th.
The Vikings are probably one year away from starting fresh with a new official general manager and head coach if 2026 breaks bad. In that regard, there is nothing to lose by rolling with Murray for cheap. If he stinks, Minnesota can draft a quarterback from a loaded 2027 draft class.
Nothing Better Is Available for Cheaper
Ask yourself this: What’s better? Jimmy Garoppolo for $3 million or Kyler Murray for $2 million?
It’s actually hard to believe that some are contemplating non-Murray options for the Vikings at the moment. There is no better and available quarterback at a lower price with more upside and documented production.
Youth, Youth, and Youth
You’ve heard some of the usual suspects to possibly sign with the Vikings this month: Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins, Geno Smith, Joe Flacco, Derek Carr, etc. All those men will be at least 35 years old when the regular season starts.
Murray is 28. There is no reason to onboard a less productive quarterback who’s at least 6-7 years older than Murray. In fact, Murray could have a full decade of QB1 duty in front of him.
Vikings = 9-8 in 2025 with League’s 5th-Worst QB Play
Per EPA/Dropback, the Vikings ranked 28th in the NFL last season. This means they trotted out the league’s fifth-worst quarterback group.
How’d they finish the season? With a 9-8 record — one win away from postseason and flirting with an NFC North crown. Murray can transform that 9-8 record to 12-5 or better with the snap of two fingers.
The “Quarterback Whisperer” Deserves This Trial
O’Connell’s reputation as a quarterback whisperer is on the rocks; the guy he drafted for his quarterback of the future is injury-prone, a bit immature, and inconsistent.
In Murray, Minnesota’s skipper can re-obtain his good name. O’Connell has already cooked with Darnold, Joshua Dobbs for a few weeks, unlocked the best from Kirk Cousins, and convinced Nick Mullens to author 400-yard passing games with ease.
O’Connell could do scary things with a hungry Murray.
The Scheme Fit Argument Is Dumb
Is Murray a dream fit for O’Connell’s modus operandi? Hell no. Does that matter? It does not.
If an NBA team signed Steph Curry for cheap but the head coach’s game plan didn’t create more than five 3-pointers per game, would that coach ask Curry to specialize in layups and mid-range shots? He would not. That coach would change his offense to allow Curry’s perimeter shooting to cook.
That’s what O’Connell can do with Murray. It is not difficult, and it is not supernatural. Tweak the scheme.
Murray as a Viking Fan
Murray has stated at least three times that he was a Vikings fan as a youngster. Tweets offer evidence.
It would be quite off for Murray to rebuke the team he loved as a kid. Murray could have been a fan of 31 other teams. Nope — the Vikings.
Sign him up.
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