Minnesota Vikings gamers collect within the offensive huddle throughout a divisional matchup towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers on Nov. 23, 2025 at Lambeau Subject in Inexperienced Bay, Wisconsin. Offensive deal with Christian Darrisaw seems on the left as Minnesota organized pre-snap communication throughout a high-stakes NFC North contest towards Inexperienced Bay on the highway. Obligatory Credit score: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Pictures
Final week, CBS Sports activities‘ Carter Bahns identified seven teams that could “bottom out” in 2026 and need a quarterback next April during the upcoming draft’s very deep class. For higher or worse, the Minnesota Vikings made the minimize.
Minnesota’s season might hinge on whether or not Murray can stabilize a quarterback room filled with uncertainty.
It’s not a great listing to frequent, however Bahns sees the Vikings on the brink nonetheless.
The Quarterback Guess Drives the Entire Argument
Do you suppose the Vikings are on the verge of a full franchise reset?
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy participates in OTA No. 1 observe highlights from the TCO Efficiency Heart through the 2025 offseason program. The session befell in late Might 2025 after Minnesota drafted McCarthy in Spherical 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft and following the torn meniscus damage that erased his rookie marketing campaign. Obligatory Credit score: YouTube
Bahns: Vikings May Want a Rookie QB in 2027
Minnesota was on Bahns’ naughty listing, which included groups just like the Cleveland Browns and the New York Jets. He defended his take: “The floor and ceiling: Even in a year when McCarthy sustained injury after injury, stretching the quarterback room as thin as possible, the Vikings still finished a game above .500.”
“If McCarthy stays healthy and improves, or if Murray proves to be the reclamation project Minnesota hopes for, this should be a playoff team. Otherwise, a handful of wins should still be attainable, which likely leaves the front office picking in the middle of the first round.”
One may argue that the Vikings are in nice form with Murray and McCarthy, probably having the very best of each worlds: a hungry veteran able to show himself and a 23-year-old whippersnapper additionally able to show himself.
Bahns continued, “The veteran who could change the plan: Much like the Falcons, Minnesota finds itself choosing between an oft-injured and unproven youngster and a perennial middle-of-the-road veteran seeking one final chance as a starter.”
“The more team-friendly outcome is for McCarthy to figure things out, but the more likely scenario is that Murray delivers a solid campaign and forces the Vikings to decide between re-signing him or finding a rookie replacement.”
Did the Vikings Train Everyone Nothing with Sam Darnold?
Maybe the plenty ought to rethink criticism of the Vikings’ quarterback technique.
Two years in the past, Minnesota signed Sam Darnold, and the fan response was overwhelmingly adverse. The Vikings had been actually going to start out the post-Kirk Cousins period with a participant who had develop into a nationwide punchline? Sure, that was certainly the plan.
And guess what? It labored. Darnold ended up throwing 35 touchdowns in Minnesota, revitalized his profession, and even secured a Tremendous Bowl title with the 2025 Seattle Seahawks after his time with the Vikings. What appeared like a lackluster transfer again in March finally supplied Minnesota with important worth from a quarterback many had already written off.
Now, Murray is becoming a member of the group with a stronger observe report than Darnold had at the moment.
Murray has already performed at a excessive stage, demonstrated his capacity as a starter, and proven a ceiling that Darnold by no means reached within the public eye again in 2024. Thus, dismissing the Vikings’ decision-makers earlier than Murray even steps onto the sphere feels untimely.
They discovered success with Darnold for a season, so anticipating comparable outcomes from Murray shouldn’t appear far-fetched.
Don’t Underestimate Murray
Murray can ball; that’s all there may be to it. Over the past eight months or so, some have determined that he isn’t excellent and that his profession is on the brink.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray throws a landing go towards the Houston Texans on Oct. 24, 2021, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Murray delivered the scoring throw whereas pressured by Texans defensive finish Jonathan Greenard through the first half of Arizona’s regular-season matchup with Houston. Obligatory Credit score: Rob Schumacher-Arizona Republic.
It doesn’t need to be that method, although. He’ll have added motivation to show the Arizona Cardinals made a mistake by releasing him. He’s one of many quickest quarterbacks within the NFL. His arm power is supreme, with the flexibility to throw the ball 60-70 yards. And Murray is thought for his accuracy, a lot in order that he ranks No. 5 in NFL historical past in completion share.
The narrative that Murray is a down-on-his-luck passer is simply weird.
As not too long ago because the 2024 season, the Cardinals owned a 6-4 report via 10 video games, and Murray was thought of a fringe MVP candidate. Based mostly on the present vibe round his manufacturing, that looks like a decade in the past or as if it by no means occurred in any respect.
Falcons as a Vikings Bedfellow
Atlanta is in an eerily comparable scenario to Minnesota. Accidents have stymied Michael Penix Jr.’s younger profession — like McCarthy. Tua Tagovailoa is banking on a geographic treatment after years of confirmed manufacturing — like Murray.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. runs onto the sphere earlier than a matchup towards the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sep. 7, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Penix ready for the regular-season opener as Atlanta started its 2025 marketing campaign towards a well-recognized NFC South opponent at house. Obligatory Credit score: Brett Davis-Imagn Pictures.
Bahns on the Falcons as bottom-out candidates: “The floor and ceiling: Atlanta’s floor is reasonably high because if one of Penix or Tagovailoa does not work out, the other is still a serviceable player. Quarterback play seems unlikely to fall off a cliff, and the offensive weapons are some of the best in the league.”
“Neither signal-caller is a franchise cornerstone, though, so the most reasonable outcome is for the Falcons to finish in the middle of the pack and pick somewhere in the teens come draft day.”
Not for nothing, the Vikings and Falcons meet on November twenty ninth in Minneapolis.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
