Vikings, Steelers May Target Same QB Trade
It is unclear whether the Minnesota Vikings will pursue quarterback Kyler Murray this offseason, but all signs point to Murray being available in trade, with a new head coach taking over in the desert and likely wanting a clean slate. And if Minnesota takes the plunge in the Murray sweepstakes, it might have to battle the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Both teams have QB questions, and Murray’s availability could turn into a Vikings-Steelers tug-of-war.
The Steelers, too, need a quarterback if Aaron Rodgers retires, and new head coach Mike McCarthy has allegedly held Murray in high regard in the past.
Pittsburgh’s Interest Could Jam Minnesota’s Path to Murray
Murray to Vikings may be complicated by Murray to Steelers.
Steelers Reporter: McCarthy May Want Murray
PennLive‘s Nick Farabaugh does not think the Steelers are a long shot to acquire Murray.
He said this week, “I’ll say this: When he McCarthy hasn’t had Aaron Rodgers and Dak Prescott, his record as a head coach is 19-24. It’s not terrible, it’s like 8-9, 7-10 yearly if you really expound that. But it’s not great. My guess is if Rodgers is willing to come back, he’s the quarterback next year. He has to decide if he wants to play.”
“If he doesn’t come back, I think that’s when things get interesting. Mike McCarthy in the past has really liked Kyler Murray. That’s been something to watch. I think the Jets also really like Kyler Murray though so that will be a real nice bidding war. Depending on what the new coach in Arizona wants to do. I think it’s no certain thing that Kyler Murray’s even going to get moved. But if he’s available. I think Kyler’s going to be on the table.”
Until Farabaugh’s theory, Steelers fans had been so fixated on Mike Tomlin’s termination, the search for a new head coach, Aaron Rodgers’ retirement status, and the eventual McCarthy hire that Murray hadn’t entered the rumor mill.
Now, he has.
A Fit That … Makes Sense
For those Vikings fans who want Murray to end up in the Twin Cities, there’s a sad and stark reality: Pittsburgh + Murray makes sense as a landing spot.
Since Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement a half-decade ago, Mike Tomlin and friends failed to consistently nail down the quarterback spot, vacillating between half-measured options and swinging and missing on the Kenny Pickett draft pick in 2022. It’s time for the Steelers do something — anything — to taper the quarterback turmoil.
Trading for Murray would do precisely that, acquiring a 28-year-old passer who has elite upside in the proper system.
A Better Fit for Murray — PIT or MIN?
For Murray, Minnesota is the better fit. It’s also worth noting that Murray grew up as a Vikings fan. He’s mentioned it a few times over the years.
But per personnel, Murray would waltz into a program that has Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, probably a rookie running back later in April, a quarterback-whispering head coach, a team that wants to contend for a Super Bowl right now, and a playcalling scheme that likes to fling the rock.
In Pittsburgh, Murray would inherit DK Metcalf, Mike McCarthy, Jaylen Warren, Kaleb Johnson, and a franchise that prefers to run the ball and play ferocious defense. The only perk in Pittsburgh is that Murray would be the unabashed QB1. With the Vikings, J.J. McCarthy would loom.
The Price?
Soon, the Cardinals will hire a new head coach, and that man may want a fresh start altogether in the desert. After all, Murray has worked for the Cardinals since the beginning of 2019, and the franchise has not won a playoff game. In fact, Murray and Co. have won over eight games just once on his watch in a single season, and reached the playoffs one time — in 2021. That was five years ago.
Therefore, the former first overall pick could be traded in the next six weeks. The budding consensus in NFL circles is that a general manager can probably donate a 2nd-Round pick to the Cardinals and grab Murray’s services.
The Vikings have a 2nd-Rounder in their draft cabinet for the first time in four years. Previously, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah preferred to trade the pick.
With the Steelers lurking, it may boil down to which team, in theory, the Vikings or Steelers, is willing to part ways with its 2nd-Rounder to get Murray.
At the peak of his powers in Year No. 2, Murray tabulated nearly 4,000 passing yards and 37 touchdowns in a single season.
Not everyone’s on board with Murray, though. The Viking Age‘s Anthony Miller opined last week, “This wouldn’t make sense from the Vikings’ perspective, as they would have to make sure this isn’t a trade and that they sign him to a free-agent contract. Also, as previously mentioned, Murray is not a fit in O’Connell’s offense in any way.”
“Minnesota would be better off getting a quarterback like Cousins or Rodgers, as obvious as that might seem. Murray would be an ambitious move for the Vikings, but one that wouldn’t ultimately work out in their favor.”
Arizona would eat about $18 million in dead cap if it traded Murray before June 1st.
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