Baker Mayfield has been down this path — almost exactly the same one — so when he talked about Kyler Murray’s upcoming season last week, folks listened.

The Minnesota Vikings signed Murray in March after the Arizona Cardinals gave up on him, and, according to Mayfield, a former college teammate, it’s all going to work out in Minnesota.

Oklahoma Bond Gives Murray’s Vikings Reset More Weight

Mayfield on Murray

Mayfield delivered his Murray takes at youth football camp in Oklahoma over the weekend. “I’m happy for him, and I think it’s going to be great. Coming from someone who has been in a similar situation where you think you’re going to be somewhere forever and just needing a new change of scenery,” he said.

“I think this fresh start for him is going to be amazing. Kyler gets a bad wrap. People want to put a certain persona on him. Luckily, we get him early in the season before he gets too hot.”

It’s mounting momentum from players and fans, who believe the Murray experiment will flourish in the Twin Cities.

Of All People, Mayfield Would Know

There is no better source for this assertion than Mayfield. Full stop.

Murray’s career arc right now absolutely resembles Mayfield’s — and might even be starting from a better spot. In 2022, the Cleveland Browns tossed Mayfield in the garbage, opting for Deshaun Watson, a decision that turned out to be a trainwreck.

Mayfield bounced around between the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams before landing in Tampa Bay in 2023, when he took a few months to reestablish himself as a Top 15 (or so) quarterback. Mayfield is no longer a joke, and in fact, has his eyes on a massive contract extension.

Murray can follow this path and might even skip the unsuccessful Panthers-Rams chapters that plagued Mayfield.

Teammates at Oklahoma

At Oklahoma, the dynamic between Mayfield and Kyler was a crucible, an “iron sharpening iron” scenario that ultimately yielded a Heisman Trophy.

Mayfield arrived as the undisputed heart and soul of the program — loud, fearless, emotional, and supremely confident in his ability to win every Saturday. Murray, a former five-star transfer, brought unholy athletic skills, baseball hype, and enough talent to make any quarterback room uneasy.

For two seasons, Murray had to patiently observe and fiercely compete behind one of college football’s all-time great quarterbacks. What could have easily become a volatile situation instead transformed into an incredibly intense learning experience. Mayfield set the standard with his preparation, his swagger, and his masterful execution of Lincoln Riley’s offense. Murray absorbed everything, pushed Mayfield, and remained ready.

By 2017, it was clear that Oklahoma housed both its current star and its future one. Mayfield completely owned his moment, and in doing so, taught Murray how to own the one that would come next.

On the other hand, Pro Football Network‘s Zahid Rashid recently explained some of the critiques of Murray throughout his NFL career: “Following his lone playoff appearance in 2021, Murray signed a five-year, $230.5 million contract extension with Arizona the following offseason. The deal included a controversial independent-study clause requiring him to complete 4 hours of film study each week, without distractions such as television or video games.”

“The clause quickly became a national talking point. Fans mocked Murray, suggesting the Cardinals included it because they questioned his work ethic or believed he spent more time playing video games than preparing for football. Murray later called the criticism disrespectful during an impromptu press conference, and the Cardinals soon removed the clause.”

Vikings coaches and players have noted for four months that Murray does not fit an aloof or lazy persona.

Rashid continued, “Even so, the episode left a lasting mark on his public image. Now entering a new chapter with Minnesota, Murray will look to prove that the criticism does not define his career, something Mayfield clearly believes he can do.”

“However, the road will not be easy, as he enters training camp in a battle with J.J. McCarthy for the Vikings’ starting quarterback job.”

Less than 11 Weeks until Showtime

The Vikings’ season gets underway in 76 days, hosting the Green Bay Packers on September 13th. Murray will immediately face his former head coach, Jonathan Gannon, who now runs the Packers’ defense.

Murray, of course, still has to win the summer quarterback competition against J.J. McCarthy, but per Mayfield’s assessment, that will happen and may not even be difficult.

Oddsmakers expect the Vikings to win eight or nine games in 2026, putting them in contention for a Wildcard postseason berth. Murray has the league’s third-best odds to win the Comeback Player of the Year award, trailing Patrick Mahomes and Jayden Daniels.

Murray will turn 29 in August.

Mayfield and Murray will clash on September 27th in Tampa Bay.