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ESPN Grades the Vikings’ Big QB Move
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- ESPN Grades the Vikings’ Big QB Move
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Vikings made their quarterback decision about two weeks ago, and that man's name is Kyler Murray , a two-time Pro Bowler kicked out of Arizona after seven seasons in favor of a fresh start for all parties. According to ESPN, the Vikings get an 'A' grade for that choice.
The Murray gamble earned praise, and ESPN sees real upside in Minnesota's decision.
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ESPN's Seth Walder sized up the big moves around the NFL as of late, and he was rather impressed with Kevin O'Connell and Co.
National Reaction Suggests Minnesota Made the Right QB Bet
How would you grade the Murray move?
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) sets the offense at the line of scrimmage, scanning the defense and preparing adjustments during a regular-season matchup at State Farm Stadium, Oct 24, 2021, in Glendale, Arizona, USA. Murray directed traffic pre-snap while leading Arizona's attack against the Houston Texans in cross-conference action. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.
ESPN's Walder: Murray to MIN Is an 'A' Grade
Walder didn't hand out A s to every team, so the Vikings apparently nailed it with Murray.
Walder explained , "Grade: A. The Vikings pulled off an absolute coup at the game's most important position. While the Vikings are lucky he had this guaranteed money with offsets, it's not sheer luck that he is wearing purple."
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"Because money was not a factor, Murray had his pick of teams since no one could really offer him more financially. And O'Connell's record of quarterback development speaks for itself. I also think Minnesota deserves credit for being open to at least the possibility of moving on from J.J. McCarthy this quickly by bringing in such a strong competitor."
The Vikings will probably advertise a camp competition between Murray and McCarthy, but ball-knowers can predict how it will end. Murray will take the cake.
Walder added, "I don't think every organization would do that, but viewing McCarthy as a potentially sunk cost is the right way for the team to maximize its chances of finding its next quarterback."
"And yes, there could be a quarterback competition, so we can't rule out McCarthy just yet. But for now, it looks like the Vikings have at least one strong starting quarterback in Murray."
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The Value Cannot Be Denied
Pretend for a moment that the Vikings wanted to trade for Murray before the regular season deadline in 2023 or 2024. Murray would've cost a team two 1st-Rounders — minimum. That's the going rate for a franchise quarterback, and of course, Murray was not for sale.
Suddenly, down the stretch of the 2025 campaign and early in the 2026 offseason, Murray became available for free. The Cardinals didn't want him anymore. They said no thanks — we have Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew , thank you very much.
Murray should not have been available for the NFL's version of free. But he was, and the Vikings pounced.
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A Slow Burn That Came to Fruition
When Arizona committed to Brissett in November, December, and January last year, whispers circulated about Murray's future. Would the Cardinals really let him walk for nothing? It seemed unlikely. Why on earth would they do that?
Meanwhile, some Vikings fans began to wonder whether Murray could really tunnel to Minnesota, seeing the writing on the wall: McCarthy's durability might be suspect, and his skill set would need serious refinement beyond the 2025 campaign.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray speaks with reporters following his arrival in free agency, addressing expectations and his transition to a new team setting, Mar 12, 2026, in Eagan, Minnesota, USA. Murray met the media after being introduced as the Vikings' starting quarterback, discussing his early impressions of the roster and coaching staff. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Soon after, the offseason began, and the march to Murray progressed each week. All hints pointed toward Murray's release, and as a kid, he had grown up cheering for the Vikings. Couple that information with Kevin O'Connell, known as a quarterback whisperer, along with weapons like Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, and Murray to the Vikings became a reality. He signed in Minnesota the day after Arizona formally dropped him.
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A Chance to Be the Franchise Quarterback … Indefinitely
Listen — Murray doesn't have to be a one-hit wonder in Minnesota. The Vikings should have learned their lesson from the Sam Darnold debacle. If the guy plays well, pay him. It doesn't have to be that complicated.
Walder added, "There's going to be a lot of talk about reclamation projects connected to the Vikings in the wake of the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl with Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones' resurgence last season in Indianapolis."
"But Murray's peak was substantially higher than those two before they arrived in Minnesota. By comparison, helping Murray should feel like easy mode for Kevin O'Connell."
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) celebrates a dramatic overtime victory with visible emotion after leading a comeback effort at Allegiant Stadium, Sep 18, 2022, in Paradise, Nevada, USA. Murray's performance helped lift Arizona past the Las Vegas Raiders in a tightly contested game that extended beyond regulation. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports.
The Vikings have been quarterback-starved for eons, arguably since the days of Daunte Culpepper , when he held down the fort admirably from 2000 to 2005. Brett Favre represented a flash in the plan. So did Case Keenum. Kirk Cousins provided solid performance from 2018 to 2023, but he never remotely possessed Murray's raw talent and upside.
Equipped with a nifty 'A' grade from ESPN, Murray has a chance to remain the Vikings' QB1 for the rest of his career. That idea is not outrageous.
