Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray took the sector for pregame warmups earlier than dealing with the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, with the venue mirrored in his face protect. On January 3, 2021, in Inglewood, California, Murray ready for the regular-season finale as Arizona readied for a divisional street matchup in Southern California. Obligatory Credit score: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Photographs.
The Minnesota Vikings wanted a quarterback to hedge the guess in opposition to J.J. McCarthy’s out-of-nowhere damage resume, touchdown on Kyler Murray, who was booted off the Arizona Cardinals‘ roster, in March for $1.3 million. Because of that value — it’s fairly unbelievable — Bleacher Report has determined that Minnesota will get an ‘A’ offseason grade for the transaction.
Vikings followers are excited to see Murray’s debut in September, and within the meantime, the transfer is drawing stellar critiques.
Murray Transfer Offers Vikings Offseason a Nationwide Dub
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray sits within the entrance row on the staff’s Tempe coaching facility as Jonathan Gannon is launched because the franchise’s new head coach. On Feb. 16, 2023, Murray watched the information convention from shut vary whereas Arizona started one other try to reset its coach-quarterback partnership for the group’s future. Obligatory Credit score: Arizona Cardinals.
BR: Murray to Vikings Will get an ‘A’
Moe Moton of Bleacher Report handed out a couple of ‘A’ grades this week, and Murray was among the many recipients.
He wrote, “Murray is a two-time Pro Bowler and former No. 1 overall pick with respectable passing numbers. He’s thrown for 20,460 yards, 121 touchdowns and 60 interceptions with a 67.1 percent completion rate in seven seasons.”
“The 28-year-old could be a Comeback Player of the Year candidate. Despite inconsistent quarterback play, the Vikings barely missed the 2025 postseason, finishing 9-8 behind the 9-7-1 Green Bay Packers. Murray doesn’t need a Sam Darnold rebirth-type season to lead Minnesota to the playoffs. If he stays healthy and gets the ball to wide receivers Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings, the Vikings’ passing attack should be far better than last year’s 29th-ranked unit.”
Different passers like Malik Willis and Mac Jones frequented the Vikings’ February and March rumor mill, however Murray finally took the plunge.
“Furthermore, the Vikings’ low-risk, high-reward signing at quarterback gives them a chance to re-evaluate their plan for J.J. McCarthy after he struggled mightily last season, throwing for 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions with a 57.6 percent completion rate, Moton added.”
“Keep in mind, they fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who drafted McCarthy, and hired Nolan Tinsley to replace him. Murray could revitalize his career in a new chapter with the Vikings. Grade: A.”
Each Group Ought to’ve Signed Murray at That Worth
Not solely is Murray a beautiful worth for the Vikings, each staff within the league, together with squads with elite passers like Josh Allen and Joe Burrow, ought to’ve referred to as Murray in March. To discover a beginning quarterback — who produces 3,900+ passing yards, 30 complete TDS, and 600+ dashing yards each 17 begins — for $1.3 million is simply absurd and mind-boggling.
How’d it occur? Easy — the Cardinals lower ties, solely to show round and pay Murray’s tab for 2026. You possibly can’t offload a giant NFL contract earlier than its expiration with out penalties. So, the value of a recent begin for Arizona was certainly paying Murray to play for the Vikings.
Even when Murray fully flops — performs terribly or blows out a knee, for instance — he was well worth the worth to seek out out at $1.3 million.
Excessive QB Depth
The Vikings’ intense give attention to quarterback depth this offseason is a logical response to latest historical past.
Minnesota has skilled two seasons derailed by quarterback accidents. The 2023 marketing campaign took a nosedive the second Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles. Then the 2025 season grew to become chaotic as J.J. McCarthy sustained repeated accidents. By the tip of it, the Vikings had discovered their lesson twice over. Their message was clear: “Enough is enough.”
Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray work via minicamp follow reps at TCO Efficiency Middle as Kevin O’Connell’s employees evaluates a reshaped quarterback room. On June 11, 2026, the 2 passers continued constructing timing and command throughout Day 3 of staff highlights inside Minnesota’s offseason program in Eagan, Minnesota, that summer time. Obligatory Credit score: YouTube.
So, the 2026 offseason prompted them to aggressively purchase a number of viable quarterback choices. The roster now options Murray and McCarthy. Carson Wentz is available as backup, and Max Brosmer can develop with out intense stress.
Murray, naturally, is the showstopper. If he stays wholesome for all 17 video games, Minnesota can realistically harbor playoff aspirations, as Kevin O’Connell usually thrives with an skilled quarterback. The first concern, nevertheless, is Murray’s historical past of lacking video games. His availability has been an ongoing difficulty for years, and it might be imprudent to disregard that pattern.
And if Murray is sidelined in 2026, Minnesota won’t be caught off guard or pressured to scramble for a last-minute alternative (see: Joshua Dobbs in 2023). McCarthy is poised to step in as a formidable Plan B, a task for which he has each incentive to excel, given his excessive potential.
Different Offseason Additions and Subtractions
The Jonathan Greenard commerce was pivotal — and never completely perfect. In April, Minnesota despatched Greenard and a Seventh-round choose to Philadelphia in change for 2 Third-rounders. The transfer not solely acquired extra draft capital but additionally created area for Jauan Jennings, securing a legit WR3 for the Vikings and offering essential wage cap aid in 2027 and 2028.
Given the Vikings’ must reconstruct a lot of their roster on a tighter finances, they nonetheless confronted quite a few remaining wants.
Their free-agent acquisitions included:
Johnny Hekker (P)
Jauan Jennings (WR)
Eric Johnson (DT)
Isaiahh Loudermilk (DT)
Kyler Murray (QB)
James Pierre (CB)
Ryan Van Demark (OT)
New Minnesota Vikings extensive receiver Jauan Jennings sits down with Vikings Leisure Community’s Tatum Everett to debate his determination to affix Minnesota and enter Kevin O’Connell’s offense. On Might 27, 2026, Jennings described his first weeks with the staff, the receiver room, and the bodily mentality behind his taking part in fashion after leaving San Francisco. Obligatory Credit score: YouTube.
And from the draft, they grabbed:
Spherical 1 — Caleb Banks | DTRound 2 — Jake Golday | LBRound 3 — Domonique Orange | DTRound 3 — Caleb Tiernan | OTRound 3 — Jakobe Thomas | SRound 5 — Max Bredeson | TERound 5 — Charles Demmings | CBRound 6 — Demond Claiborne | RBRound 7 — Gavin Gerhardt | OL
Right here’s the wild half about this offseason: it actually appeared like Minnesota was strapped for money, and in some methods, they had been. However someway, they nonetheless managed to herald a beginning quarterback, a brand new WR3, and a ton of younger assist for the defensive position.
And per Bleacher Report, the Murray addition takes the grand prize.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
