One of the big stories that hit the NFL wires yesterday was the Arizona Cardinals officially informing former #1 overall pick Kyler Murray that the team would be releasing him at the start of the new league year. He is currently owed a ton of money by the Cardinals, so the assumption is that any team that’s interested in signing him will be able to do so for a minimal amount of money.
Naturally, Murray’s name has been immediately connected to the Minnesota Vikings. The connection makes sense if you’re
of the belief that the Vikings are already willing to give up on J.J. McCarthy after just ten NFL starts, which would be a colossally stupid move and still, somehow, something that you could absolutely see this franchise doing.
Murray is almost certainly going to be the best available option available in free agency among the quarterback crop, but should the Vikings be sprinting to get him signed to a contract when he gets released? A lot of people seem to think so.
I don’t.
I’m not going to deny that Murray is a physically gifted and talented quarterback. You don’t get to be a #1 overall pick in the NFL Draft without having those sorts of traits. But given the sort of offense that Kevin O’Connell wants to run, Murray doesn’t seem to be a great fit. We heard stories a week or so ago about how the Vikings had to “simplify” the offense to limit the number of throws McCarthy was making in the middle of the field.
Well. . .guess who else doesn’t particularly care to throw the ball in the middle of the field?
The thought of Murray slinging deep balls to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, with O’Connell calling the plays, is tantalizing in theory. But 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. Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the Vikings’ passing heat map from last season and Murray’s from the past five seasons, via TruMedia. It’s not difficult to spot the big difference, but I’ve circled it for you anyway.
(Go to the link to the Ringer story to see the graphic.)
O’Connell runs a version of Sean McVay’s offense, and Mike LaFleur, who’s coming over from McVay’s staff to coach the Cardinals, just let us know how his staff views Murray’s fit in that scheme. It’s hard to imagine O’Connell watching Murray’s film, seeing all the examples of him turning down open receivers running over the middle of the field, and still thinking that this pairing would work.
On top of that, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com is saying that the Vikings are looking to add a veteran quarterback “on a one-year deal.” But he also emphasizes that they don’t want to “lose J.J. McCarthy.” It doesn’t make a damn bit of sense to me, honestly. In a polite manner of speaking, either defecate or remove yourself from the toilet.
I may be in the minority on this, and I honestly don’t care if I am, but the Vikings’ best path forward for 2026 is to get McCarthy a full offseason of work in the offense, since he’ll be healthy and not rehabbing an injury, and bring in an actual serious veteran backup option. Not Sam Howell, not grabbing Carson Wentz off his couch a week before the season starts, and damn sure not Max Brosmer. Either McCarthy wins the job and you (hopefully) have your guy going forward, or he doesn’t win the job and you’re going to be scouting players from the quarterback class of 2027. . .and there’s a decent chance you’re going to have a new head coach overseeing their development.
If the Vikings decide to bring Kyler Murray in, I’ll be hoping for him to be successful, obviously. I just don’t think it’s a great idea.
