NFL Chorus Sings Same Song on Top Vikings Question
Essentially everyone around the NFL is connecting the same purple dots. Next week, Kyler Murray is going to become a Minnesota Vikings employee.
Without question, there’s at least some merit to the idea. The Vikings cannot roll into 2026 without strong competition for J.J. McCarthy (Max Brosmer, God bless him, isn’t yet there). Head coach Kevin O’Connell and fill-in general manager Rob Brzezinski have noted the need to enhance the in-house competition. Is Mr. Murray the desired solution?
NFL Chorus Sings of Kyler Murray as a Viking
Social media, generally an awful place to be, combined with an unusual degree of unity: Murray is going to be a Viking.
Mina Kimes says a lot in single word in response to the Murray news, “Viking”. Ted Nguyen offered an idea, “The Colts won’t do it but Kyler Murray is a better scheme fit in Indy than Minnesota. He’d have a career year there.” The point from Nguyen is that Indy is a better landing spot even as Minnesota appears to be what’s coming. Looking around a touch more will mean digging up other opinions of a similar variety.
Turn away from social media (mercifully). Go ahead and consider the thoughts from Bleacher Report.
“The Minnesota Vikings are the best fit for Murray,” insists BR. “He would play under head coach and established play-caller Kevin O’Connell, who helped Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold perform at Pro Bowl levels and team up with two-time All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson.”
Further: “As the Vikings’ starter, Murray wouldn’t have to win in scoring shootouts every week, with a top-seven defense in scoring and total yards slowing opposing offenses.”
Over on The Ringer, Steven Ruiz contends that “it would make sense for a team as talented as the Vikings to make room for a win-now option like Murray.”
A contextual assessment of the need for Minnesota to win: “Kevin O’Connell is feeling real pressure to win for the first time since taking over the head coaching job, and the team isn’t hiding the fact that it wants to bring in a veteran starter to take QB duties away from J.J. McCarthy. Interim GM Rob Brzezinski will also need a strong season if he wants to lock down the full-time job. The Vikings desperately want to win now, and they know that improving the quarterback room is a must. Murray is the clearest upgrade among the available options.”
More fascinating is that Murray doesn’t look like a perfect fit: “in practice, it would be another awkward fit for a quarterback who (a) prefers to work out of the shotgun and (b) doesn’t throw over the middle of the field very often. O’Connell’s ideal offense would operate from under center on early downs and requires a quarterback who’s willing to throw intermediate and deep in-breakers.”
Without question, there are other publications and other social media voices who are all saying the same thing. Kyler Murray, who cheered for the Vikings growing up, possesses a strong chance of becoming a Viking.
What’s making the idea plausible — wise, even — is that he’s likely to be had for ultra cheap. Paying him just $1.3 million is insane value within a budget coming in above $300 million. Folks, note that Carson Wentz demanded the same amount (roughly) last season. Wouldn’t giving Murray the same amount make sense to see if there’s some untapped potential?
NFL free agency begins next week.
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