​The Minnesota Vikings pulled off a remarkable value move by signing Kyler Murray to hedge against any potential setbacks from J.J. McCarthy’s unpredictable injury history, securing him in March for just $1.3 million after he was released by the Arizona Cardinals. Given that price tag’s astonishing value, Bleacher Report awarded Minnesota an A for the offseason associated with the signing. Vikings fans are eager to see Murray’s debut in September, and in the meantime, the move is garnering strong praise.
BR: Murray to Vikings earns an ‘A.’ Moe Moton of Bleacher Report handed out several A grades this week, and Murray was one of the recipients. He noted, “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 across seven seasons.” He added that the 28-year-old could be a Comeback Player of the Year candidate. While quarterback play around Murray has been inconsistent, the Vikings narrowly missed the 2025 postseason, finishing 9-8 behind the 9-7-1 Green Bay Packers. Murray doesn’t need a complete revival to push Minnesota back into playoff contention; if he remains healthy and can distribute the ball to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings, Minnesota’s passing attack should outpace last year’s 29th-ranked unit.
Other signal-callers such as Malik Willis and Mac Jones had floated around the Vikings’ February and March discussions, but Murray ultimately took the leap. Moton also observed that the Vikings’ low-risk, high-reward quarterback move allows them to reconsider their plan for J.J. McCarthy after his rough 2024 season, which saw 11 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and a 57.6 percent completion rate. With the general manager role having changed hands—Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was replaced by Nolan Tinsley—the move could spark a fresh start for Murray in Minnesota. Grade: A.
Why every team should have pursued Murray at that price: Murray represents a phenomenal value for the Vikings, and in fact for every NFL club, even those with elite quarterbacks like Josh Allen or Joe Burrow. Finding a starting quarterback who can post around 3,900+ passing yards, about 30 total touchdowns, and over 600 rushing yards across 17 starts for just $1.3 million is astonishing and hard to overlook.
How did it happen? The Cardinals released Murray, then pivoted to a different approach—essentially boosting Murray’s profile for better media—and thus created a situation where Minnesota could acquire him for a fraction of what a quarterback of his profile would typically command. This move could redefine Murray’s career trajectory as he embarks on a new chapter with the Vikings.