The Minnesota Vikings needed a quarterback to hedge the bet against J.J. McCarthy’s out-of-nowhere injury resume, landing on Kyler Murray, who was booted off the Arizona Cardinals‘ roster, in March for $1.3 million. Because of that value — it’s quite incredible — Bleacher Report has decided that Minnesota gets an ‘A’ offseason grade for the transaction.
Vikings fans are excited to see Murray’s debut in September, and in the meantime, the move is drawing stellar reviews.
Murray Move Gives Vikings Offseason a National Dub
BR: Murray to Vikings Gets an ‘A’
Moe Moton of Bleacher Report handed out a few ‘A’ grades this week, and Murray was among the 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.”
Other passers like Malik Willis and Mac Jones frequented the Vikings’ February and March rumor mill, but Murray ultimately 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.”
Every Team Should’ve Signed Murray at That Price
Not only is Murray a wonderful value for the Vikings, every team in the league, including squads with elite passers like Josh Allen and Joe Burrow, should’ve called Murray in March. To find a starting quarterback — who produces 3,900+ passing yards, 30 total TDS, and 600+ rushing yards every 17 starts — for $1.3 million is just absurd and mind-boggling.
How’d it happen? Simple — the Cardinals cut ties, only to turn around and pay Murray’s tab for 2026. You can’t offload a big NFL contract before its expiration without consequences. So, the price of a fresh start for Arizona was indeed paying Murray to play for the Vikings.
Even if Murray completely flops — plays terribly or blows out a knee, for example — he was worth the price to find out at $1.3 million.
Extreme QB Depth
The Vikings’ intense focus on quarterback depth this offseason is a logical response to recent history.
Minnesota has experienced two seasons derailed by quarterback injuries. The 2023 campaign took a nosedive the moment Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles. Then the 2025 season became chaotic as J.J. McCarthy sustained repeated injuries. By the end of it, the Vikings had learned their lesson twice over. Their message was clear: “Enough is enough.”
So, the 2026 offseason prompted them to aggressively acquire multiple viable quarterback options. The roster now features Murray and McCarthy. Carson Wentz is on hand as backup, and Max Brosmer can develop without intense pressure.
Murray, naturally, is the showstopper. If he remains healthy for all 17 games, Minnesota can realistically harbor playoff aspirations, as Kevin O’Connell typically thrives with an experienced quarterback. The primary concern, however, is Murray’s history of missing games. His availability has been an ongoing issue for years, and it would be imprudent to ignore that trend.
And if Murray is sidelined in 2026, Minnesota will not be caught off guard or forced to scramble for a last-minute replacement (see: Joshua Dobbs in 2023). McCarthy is poised to step in as a formidable Plan B, a role for which he has every incentive to excel, given his high potential.
Other Offseason Additions and Subtractions
The Jonathan Greenard trade was pivotal — and not entirely ideal. In April, Minnesota sent Greenard and a 7th-round pick to Philadelphia in exchange for two 3rd-rounders. The move not only acquired additional draft capital but also created space for Jauan Jennings, securing a legitimate WR3 for the Vikings and providing crucial salary cap relief in 2027 and 2028.
Given the Vikings’ need to reconstruct much of their roster on a tighter budget, they still faced numerous remaining needs.
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)
And from the draft, they grabbed:
Round 1 — Caleb Banks | DT
Round 2 — Jake Golday | LB
Round 3 — Domonique Orange | DT
Round 3 — Caleb Tiernan | OT
Round 3 — Jakobe Thomas | S
Round 5 — Max Bredeson | TE
Round 5 — Charles Demmings | CB
Round 6 — Demond Claiborne | RB
Round 7 — Gavin Gerhardt | OL
Here’s the wild part about this offseason: it really seemed like Minnesota was strapped for cash, and in some ways, they were. But somehow, they still managed to bring in a starting quarterback, a new WR3, and a ton of young help for the defensive line.
And per Bleacher Report, the Murray addition takes the grand prize.
