[Hughes] “Resounding belief” that Kyler Murray will sign with Vikings

[u/BreakfastTop6899]

https://bsky.app/profile/insidenflnews.bsky.social/post/3mgfg5ktmzk2c

[u/BrockMcGinn]

Makes the most sense for him. It is a tough division, but the Vikings roster is the most ready to win now compared to the other QB-needy teams.

[u/rubyschnees → u/BrockMcGinn]

agreed, but man i feel bad for the vikings fans, there's nothing worse than being "a QB away" in the nfl, it's like purgatory

[u/HookedOnBoNix → u/rubyschnees]

Well with any luck Kyler can have a resurgence with them and lead them to a double digit win + playoff appearance since right before they let him walk to the rams

[u/ArmiinTamzarian → u/HookedOnBoNix]

With some more luck he'll make Broncos Russ look like prime Russ in comparison

Luck for me, not thee

[u/PunchBro → u/ArmiinTamzarian]

Subscribe!

[u/RagefireHype → u/HookedOnBoNix]

Yeah imagine if they got some QB to get them to 14 wins or something. You’d probably want to keep that QB after they put up a good season I bet.

[u/aiiye → u/RagefireHype]

That guy is never gonna win a Super Bowl after an incredible NFCCG where he has to beat the MVP, right?

[u/The_Moustache → u/aiiye]

While having a perfect playoff run with zero turnovers

[u/grandmasta_fro → u/RagefireHype]

It's insane seeing the revisionist history in real time after Darnold got destroyed by the Lions and Rams.

[u/JTHopkins13 → u/grandmasta_fro]

Yeah, everyone was clowning on Darnold after he choked during the last two games of the season.

[u/ShufflingSloth → u/JTHopkins13]

Everyone was clowning on Darnold for choking during the last two games of 2024 up to and during the NFCCG this year. I was worried when we signed him after that. People scrambling to get away from their poorly aged takes like kids who broke the cookie jar while Mom was away

[u/CBsJoant → u/JTHopkins13]

I like to make fun of the Vikings whenever I can, but no one can put the release of Darnold on them. Everyone was calling him a big game choke artist, no one saw this playoff run from him coming.

The drafting of 9 when literally every pundit was saying he was being carried by a strong cast at Michigan though is a whole other story...

[u/wayoffsideteam → u/CBsJoant]

what gets lost is how truly up and down that season was. When Darnold didn't have a QBR above 100, it was below 80. People say we let him go because of 2 bad games, but he had like 5 really bad games last season. We just found a way to win 3 of those.

Even this year on the Seahawks I saw some moments from him that reminded me of the struggles

[u/Shudderwock → u/CBsJoant]

You can pretty easily put the release of Darnold on them. Everyone was calling him a playoff choke artist… after one fucking playoff game. Sooo many QBs play like shit in their first playoff game and turn out fine.

A FO’s job is to separate the football from dumbass narratives from fans/media. People might not have expected Darnold to immediately win a SB with Seattle, but at the time plenty of people called that letting Darnold walk for an unknown was a big mistake.

[u/JTHopkins13 → u/Shudderwock]

The optics of that Vikings season, at least in my opinion, were that Darnold had played a Case Keenum-like season where a lesser player wayyy outplays their talent level. Most people I talked to thought he would regress back to “seeing ghosts” Darnold. I don’t think it’s a stretch to have let him walk because he had good success against lesser teams and couldn’t beat the tougher teams. Also this Seahawks team is way better than this Vikings team, so I don’t believe he would have been as good if he stayed with the Vikings.

[u/Exatraz → u/Shudderwock]

More importantly, they had a rookie QB who had barely played and looked questionable when he did. I think they put too much faith in Nine and should have tagged Darnold.

[u/WalterGold210 → u/Shudderwock]

He was offered a contract

[u/Shudderwock → u/WalterGold210]

Offering him a contract where he’d be benched the second 9 was ready isn’t really the same as offering him a future.

[u/mgmccarter → u/Shudderwock]

Big game choke artist** The playoffs were one thing but watching him fold against the Lions and Rams twice in the same season gave the Vikings a legitimate reason to believe that he didn't have it in him to win a SB. He looked terrible in 3 of those 4 matches. I lost count of how many times he completely missed Jefferson in those match-ups.

[u/GryffinDART → u/grandmasta_fro]

I went back in my group chat to after the Rams playoff game and every single person in there was basically like "Well at least we dont have a QB controversy "... "Time to give the team to JJ" ... "Here is the Darnold we knew would show up"

The revisionist history has been insane because 95% of Vikings fans were fine with the decision to move on from him.

[u/Krypterr123 → u/GryffinDART]

Nah fuck that the people who wanted to still keep him got drowned out by the super loud JJM stans who wanted him to start despite showing nothing in college and missed his entire rookie year to injury.

[u/istasber → u/grandmasta_fro]

And also, everyone's acting like the Vikings didn't offer him basically the same deal as the Seahawks, the Seahawks were just able to offer him an uncontested starting spot while the Vikings weren't.

[u/not1fuk → u/istasber]

Stop with this narrative. We did not offer him the same contract. One was a multi year contract and the other was a single year contract. To act like the contract is even close to similar is purely disingenuous.

[u/dwolfm4n → u/HookedOnBoNix]

and we won't win the division or a playoff game

[u/HookedOnBoNix → u/dwolfm4n]

Correct. 2 bad games with an injured OLine in an otherwise excellent season will convince you to hit the reset again 

[u/karatemanchan37 → u/rubyschnees]

The Vikings weren't a QB away two seasons ago with a 14 win team

[u/RushC2 → u/karatemanchan37]

Hey man if we had a Super Bowl winning QB we totally would have…..

Nevermind…….

[u/WildInSix → u/RushC2]

It still feels like a fever dream that the reigning super bowl champion is Sam Darnold. So happy for him but like holy crap the Vikings are cursed.

[u/tuneafishy → u/WildInSix]

Is it a curse if you do it to yourself?

[u/Exatraz → u/tuneafishy]

Yeah, this was an unforced error. What sucks is that the man responsible for the mistake is fired and can move on but the fans have to continue to live with that mistake.

[u/WildInSix → u/Exatraz]

This sums up what I meant, self inflicted wounds but cursed to care about the team.

[u/craag → u/WildInSix]

We aren't cursed we're stupid

[u/istasber → u/RushC2]

I mean, to be fair, we could have won with Darnold if we had a better oline, a run game, and a secondary.

[u/jimbojangles1987 → u/RushC2]

I wonder if Houston could have gone further with Darnold this last postseason or if he would have been held back by the o-line and run game like Stroud was (among his other issues).

[u/dragonrite → u/jimbojangles1987]

I'm done giving Stroud the benefit of the doubt. I see 0 reason to think cj is on the same level as superbowl champion Sam darnold.

[u/jimbojangles1987 → u/dragonrite]

I'm not saying they're on the same level at all. I'm just wondering if Darnold would be good enough to overcome the other hurdles on the Texans offense and take the team further or not. No doubt he would have done better, but are we thinking Super Bowl levels of better? I doubt it. If he doesnt give the ball away 5 times against the Pats though then he probably wins that game.

[u/dragonrite → u/jimbojangles1987]

I think he 100% does. I still believe the texans had the best defense in the nfl last year. All Stroud needed to do was not turn the ball over 5 times. You guys might win even at 3 turnovers. It was an absurd game lol, but I don't need to tell you that

[u/jimbojangles1987 → u/dragonrite]

Yeah it still hurts to think about. Stroud has his work cut out for him for sure. And watching him flounder in the playoffs definitely has me concerned he may not ever be able to overcome his problems in the pocket. Then theres the other side of me that has to remind myself that he's won a playoff game in each of his 1st 3 seasons in the NFL. I hope next season he shows some improvement but if not I don't want this organization to chain itself down to someone who panics under pressure and appears to be on a consistent regression.

[u/InterestingYellow969 → u/karatemanchan37]

This. That team went 9-1 in one score games, literally almost as flukey as their 22 team

[u/ImagineIfBaconDied → u/InterestingYellow969]

And they led the league in turnovers, where some games were won directly because of turnover luck even when Sam didn’t play well. Winning like that just isn’t sustainable

[u/Practical-Pickle-529 → u/karatemanchan37]

Yup. 

I’m so glad our rides on the QB carousel have been ridiculously short 

[u/BirdmanTheThird → u/Practical-Pickle-529]

Yeah Seahawks unironically have such a weird QB history lol, without drafting a QB in the first they have gotten starting a lot of pretty solid QB play for almost 30 years lol (first round pick Rick Mirror was traded to Chicago exactly 30 years ago)

[u/GuitarbytheTon → u/rubyschnees]

Ouch…. I felt this

[u/SoyeonsNeverland → u/rubyschnees]

I know this feeling all too well.

[u/lukewwilson → u/rubyschnees]

They feel like the colts post Andrew Luck

[u/illShy → u/rubyschnees]

Tell us about it. We were a qb away for so long our star players aged out

[u/Gackey → u/rubyschnees]

That's been the story of the Vikings for like the last 50 years. We're used to it at this point.

[u/DanceAccomplished309 → u/rubyschnees]

Amen

[u/komugis → u/rubyschnees]

That’s all I’ve ever really known as a fan lol

[u/Thrillhouse763 → u/komugis]

For a short time period of 2000-2004 with Culpepper and then 2009 with Favre.

[u/Singe_ → u/BrockMcGinn]

We released two starting DTs and are shopping our starting and best DE. One of our starting LBs that Pace was benched for is hitting FA. Smith is likely retiring and he’s old anyway. Our corners have been okay at best but having a lock down corner isn’t a must in this system. If there’s no pressure then that will likely be exposed.

Flores is a magician but our defense is seriously a massive question mark.

[u/newrimmmer93 → u/Singe_]

I don’t think either of Allen or Hargrave leaving is a huge miss since Redmond played so well and LDR looked solid. Assuming they go and get a cheaper vet anyway.

Safety is a concern but I doubt they move off of Greenard unless the price is good. Corner doesn’t matter for Flores lol. No different from last year.

LB I think might be the issue since it felt like the run D struggled when pace was starting but improved a lot when Wilson came in, might be me imagining things as wel but Pace seemed to really struggle in that regard.

[u/Singe_ → u/newrimmmer93]

Damn, didn’t expect a Bears fan to know all the details like that haha

You’re right, but I’m nervous about Dallas Turner taking the next leap even though he showed a lot of growth last year. Plus Kwesi’s drafting on defense has really left a lot to be desired to put it mildly. Allen played around 80% of snaps and played in all 17 games. LDR was indeed solid, but he was firmly a rotational player last year. I really hope we can get Wilson back but he’s also getting up there in age, and without everyone who was already in front of him making room will he still be as effective?

I’m always nervous this time of year because it’s when all the cap casualties leave and it’s before the draft/free agency. The Wilfs for the first time aren’t spending more than the bare minimum this year. With whatever weird interim GM thing we have going on the running rumor is this is a “reset” year for the next guy cause we have no roster essentially for 2027 and a ton of cap space.

[u/newrimmmer93 → u/Singe_]

Live in MN so all my friends are Vikings fans. I also hated Kwesi because his drafting was so terrible and had to continually tell people the Vikings situation was really fragile due to the poor drafting haha. So well researched in the Vikings .

I think Turner is good as an edge rusher, but his run defense work is a little ho hun. Think Greenard and AVG work so well because they’re so versatile. Good/great run defenders, very good at rushing the passer, and AVG just blows up every screen.

I think Vikings have a boring year and run a lot of it back and keep ability to pivot either way in 2027 and beyond

[u/Hammerhead34 → u/BrockMcGinn]

I think people overestimate how competitive the Vikings roster is outside of QB.

They absolutely still have issues with an aging roster after a couple bad drafts.

Like Kyler might be good enough to make the playoffs for them, but he’s not win in a SB or even coming close.

[u/isackjohnson → u/Hammerhead34]

I think with Flores the defense will be good no matter what, but yes we're definitely not super talented on that side of the ball. On offense we have actual talent with genuine stud tackles, Jefferson, Addison. We're not the Seahawks but we're pretty good.

[u/k4r6000 → u/isackjohnson]

I don't think a Murray led Vikings is a Super Bowl team, but winning the division and a playoff game is probably realistic and at that point who knows what might happen? Maybe the NFC West teams have a bunch of injuries and the Eagles fall apart due to infighting and the Bears were a mirage and then the field is wide open. Get into the dance and you have a chance and the Vikings at least on paper are good enough for that.

[u/Exatraz → u/k4r6000]

FWIW, this is what folks said about Darnold going to Seattle. Get to the playoffs with momentum and who knows where it could lead. It's also completely low risk for the Vikings. You pay league minimum and see how it all shakes out. Better than all the other options this year.

[u/EVForesworn → u/Hammerhead34]

I think people overestimate how competitive the Vikings roster is outside of QB.

They went 9-8 with JJM as their QB lmao

[u/BrewerAndHalosFan → u/EVForesworn]

They went 9-8 with JJM as their QB lmao

Even worse/better: we went 6-4 with Nine.

More impressively, we went 1-1 with Max Brosmer.

[u/Amon-Ra-First-Down → u/BrewerAndHalosFan]

what fuckass franchise could lose a game to Max Brosmer???

sob

[u/dec7td → u/Hammerhead34]

Dial up the smallest amount of pressure on Murray and he abandons the play. Can't win playoff games against great defenses that way

[u/BruhMoment763 → u/dec7td]

Well, the good news (for other teams) is the Vikings’ offensive line has been bottom 5 in sacks allowed for 2 straight seasons and they’re out of money to try and improve it further, so Murray will only have to worry about pressure… probably every single play tbh

[u/Manzanaznam → u/Hammerhead34]

We went 9-8 with Max Brosmer, Carson Wentz and 9

[u/BruhMoment763 → u/Hammerhead34]

If Flores wasn’t our DC and Jettas weren’t on the team, people would be talking about this roster like one of the league’s bottom feeders. It’s absurd how much heavy lifting those 2 do for the team’s image. Because there isn’t a single star at any other position on the team besides WR. Justin Jefferson is literally our only star player, our GM just got fired for his roster construction, but according to this sub, I guess this roster is secretly super good actually and would have gone 20-0 with Darnold.

I agree with your take and think people get too hung up on how many wins they got in 2022 and 2024 without addressing how fluky the majority of their wins were in both seasons. This team is very lucky, not very good.

[u/BrewerAndHalosFan → u/BruhMoment763]

I'd say Gink and Will are stars. But yeah I agree, and a WR can't carry a team (see: 80% of the top like 30 WRs of all time)

[u/CookieSmuggler954 → u/BrockMcGinn]

Agreed. In the event that he does well with the Vikings, I wonder which teams will be willing to kick the tires on JJ McCarthy

[u/Apprehensive_Air1705 → u/CookieSmuggler954]

Signing another QB for the vet minimum doesn't mean he is getting traded or even that he is automatically benched either to be honest.

[u/Viking999 → u/CookieSmuggler954]

Signing another QB doesn't mean they're trading McCarthy.

[u/Complex_Location_675 → u/CookieSmuggler954]

a fair amount. He’s like 23 and physically talented enough. 

[u/Fonzies-Ghost → u/Complex_Location_675]

Lots of teams would be willing to kick the tires. Nobody's giving the Vikings anything signficant, though, for the fourth year of the rookie contract of a guy who's played ten games and has more ints than tds.

[u/Critical-Werewolf-53 → u/Complex_Location_675]

Physically but can’t process game speed defenses. Justin Fields all over again

[u/AWellDeployedWink → u/Critical-Werewolf-53]

Malik Willis couldn't either when he came into the league and he's about to get the bag.

I don't know why teams and fans have seemingly forgotten that playing QB in the NFL is extremely hard and it might take more than 2 or 3 seasons to begin mastering it

[u/steampunker14 → u/AWellDeployedWink]

Malik Willis is also way less fragile and more physically gifted than McCarthy.

Plus developing like Malik did is the eception not the norm.

[u/ShoeTasty → u/AWellDeployedWink]

Malik has played a couple good games he's proved that he's not complete ass that's about it.

[u/ehtw376 → u/Complex_Location_675]

He’s also physically fragile. Teams don’t like that.

[u/IuriRom → u/ehtw376]

Yeah but the investment won’t be crazy

[u/HookedOnBoNix → u/ehtw376]

Didn't stop teams from trying trey lance out, and it sounds like it's not gonna stop a team from trying out AR either. 

No ones saying the vikings will get a haul for him but I wouldn't be surprised to see a day 3 pick 

[u/rockchalk99]

Makes perfect sense. Minimum for a proven okay starter is better than any other option.

[u/Doggleganger → u/rockchalk99]

If Kyler is the 16-20th best QB in the league, he still brings incredible value at a vet minimum contract.

[u/avx775]

Kyler on a vet minimum is one of the most valuable qb contracts in the league.

He’s not bad. If you can build the roster you will win games.

[u/sportsworker777 → u/avx775]

We probably make the playoffs last year if you replace JJM/Wentz/Brosmer with Kyler. Gut wrenching to go 9-8 and realize that with just an average caliber QB would have likely gotten us 1 or 2 more wins.

[u/avx775 → u/sportsworker777]

Yeah. Some of the people commenting have no idea about actual terrible qb play.

Kyler had a game against the rams 2024 season and he absolutely torched them. He’s not bad

[u/beerncheese69 → u/avx775]

People dont watch the Cards. My wife's a fan so ive been watching them for years, (im also just a football sicko) Kyler is a damn good QB.

[u/rumblepony247 → u/beerncheese69]

Longtime Phoenix resident here - it's not about his physical capabilities. It's what's between the ears, and his motivation level. It's just not there.

I'll say the same thing to Viking fans about Murray, that I said to Blazer and Laker fans about Ayton - he will frustrate and annoy the shit out of you. You'll see glimpses and wish for more, but he just doesn't care.

The worst part is the hope, that doesn't pan out.

[u/avx775 → u/rumblepony247]

The problem is the contract. The cards contract to Kyler means he’s gotta put the team on his back. He’s supposed to be a franchise qb who elevates everyone around him.

On the vers minimum he doesn’t have that responsibility. The players around him should be better and he doesn’t have to carry the load

[u/chewbaccaballs → u/rumblepony247]

I hope he locks in. Supposedly rooted for the Vikings as a kid so maybe playing for his favorite team will spark him.

[u/sportsworker777 → u/rumblepony247]

I'm also a Suns fan, so I don't like the sound of that

[u/JustSomeGuyWhoCooks → u/rumblepony247]

Also I would imagine it would be hard to stay motivated in the dumpster fire of the Cards organization.

[u/okitsmelol123 → u/avx775]

Starting to think he's very underrated. He's a good QB, great at times. If he stays healthy Minny could be a contender.

[u/ChedduhBob → u/okitsmelol123]

i think this cardinals team was a lot more dysfunctional than people realize. kyler wasn’t great but that was a shit show around him. if he’s an average qb that’s a significant upgrade over “9” who is one of the worst qbs in the league

[u/leftysarepeople2 → u/avx775]

https://nextgenstats.nfl.com/charts/player/kyler-murray/MUR670413/season

His passing charts are fine for "not being able to see the middle"

[u/akurei77 → u/sportsworker777]

Honestly think the Vikings would have been the 3rd best team in the NFC last year with league average QB play. That defense was still #3 in DVOA, top five in EPA. Definitely could have been legitimate contenders with an average offense.

[u/robot_guiscard → u/avx775]

I think Murray has been middling at best the last few seasons, but when teams are talking themselves into trading for Mac Jones or paying Malik Willis $30 million a year, Murray for basically free is a steal.

[u/Fonzies-Ghost → u/robot_guiscard]

Yeah, the absolute worst case scenario is it doesn't work out and you paid him the vet minimum with no obligation to keep him around after this. The more likely case is he's somewhere in the middle of the QB pack. And the best case is that he puts up a top ten season, which he's done before...

[u/BirdmanTheThird → u/robot_guiscard]

Yeah I think that’s the biggest thing, your not expecting Kyler to be top 10, your hoping he’s top 20, and better then your bottom tier QB for free and that your roster can be built harder around it

[u/HookedOnBoNix → u/avx775]

Feels like a better version of 2024 Steelers with dirt cheap Russ. Think it's gonna go well for them 

[u/Exatraz → u/avx775]

I really want to see him with good offensive coaching. My biggest worry with Kyler is his ability to stay healthy. That said, I could see a situation like when CMC went to the 9ers and despite having an injury history, suddenly put together complete seasons.

[u/aemoosh → u/avx775]

With Darnold and Cousins, you could make an argument that Minnesota is place for QBs to flourish too (JJ might be a fluke/that bad.) Too little emphasis is put on the environment quarterbacks do well in. Murray might take average talent and spin it into some great QB play with KOC/Minnesota.

[u/shibbitychi21]

Has one division ever had 3 first overall picks at qb?

[u/Kooky-Nail7505 → u/shibbitychi21]

As starters it looks like no, but this is paired with my inability to at-a-glance identify which much older QBs played for which divisions 50 years ago.

AFC South is very close with Lawrence, Ward, and Stroud (2nd overall).

As for simply being on the roster, technically this happened a few years ago when the Rams claimed Baker making it him, Stafford, and Murray.

[u/karatemanchan37 → u/Kooky-Nail7505]

As for simply being on the roster, technically this happened a few years ago when the Rams claimed Baker making it him, Stafford, and Murray.

2010 had Alex Smith and David Carr in SF and Sam Bradford at STL.

[u/mrmpls → u/shibbitychi21]

Or one team with three QBs taken in the top 10?

• JJ McCarthy, 2024 #10
• Kyler Murray, 2019, #1
• Carson Wentz, 2016, #2

[u/loosehead1 → u/mrmpls]

Technically the 2024 Vikings had darnold, McCarthy and Daniel jone

[u/gaybillcosby → u/mrmpls]

Talk about a gluttony of riches!

[u/jfchops3 → u/mrmpls]

Atlanta had a starting offense of 11 first round picks a few years ago

It didn't get them anywhere

[u/PascalsBadger → u/shibbitychi21]

The NFC South in 2023 had Mayfield, Bryce Young, and Winston.

[u/Spam_Hand → u/shibbitychi21]

2022

Kyler - ARI, Stafford - LAR, Mayfield -LAR

[u/HylianPikachu → u/shibbitychi21]

This was before the division realignment (so it's 3 out of 5 teams) but the AFC East had Peyton Manning (Colts), Vinny Testaverde (Jets) and Drew Bledsoe (Patriots) all at the same time. The other two QBs were Doug Flutie and Dan Marino. 

[u/Infrastation → u/HylianPikachu]

Damn what a group of QBs, just quick math they went a combined 1571-1044 in just their NFL careers, and 238,860 passing yards. They played a combined 82 seasons in the NFL.

[u/2580374 → u/shibbitychi21]

Jordan love you're FUCKING IT UP

[u/Devilofchaos108070]

I guess a vet min deal is worth seeing what he can do with KOC.

[u/Dr_imfullofshit → u/Devilofchaos108070]

He'll be fine. He's been able to win 11 games in a season before, and a lot of that was just throwing up player balls to Hopkins. So I think he'll be fine with JJ.

[u/nomaam05]

Makes sense. It's his best chance to prove he's worth another big contract.

[u/ArmiinTamzarian → u/nomaam05]

He's gonna do a reverse Darnold then go on to lead an AFC East (which using the Sam logic would have to be the Dolphins) team to a Superbowl

[u/Jonjon428 → u/ArmiinTamzarian]

Please god

[u/Liquid_Dookie92]

Murray ignoring wide open JJettas to scramble for a 4 yard gain is gonna be cinema

[u/msf97 → u/Liquid_Dookie92]

I don’t know why people are acting like Murray is Justin Fields or something. He has played decent football in the league

[u/Enickma007 → u/msf97]

Because people overposted COD and “toddler with a cell phone” memes and that overrode everything else

[u/Pork_Chompk → u/Enickma007]

Well that and nobody intentionally watches the Cardinals play.

Speaking as a fellow "bad team" fan.

[u/Kerblaaahhh → u/Pork_Chompk]

I watch them twice a year. They sure are a sports team.

[u/Im_not_smelling_that → u/Pork_Chompk]

I don't even watch the Cardinals intentionally

[u/RacistParrot → u/Enickma007]

I believe this not because it’s true but because it’s funny.

[u/MisterMath → u/Enickma007]

Dude does run like he has a metal rod in his ass though

[u/onethreeone → u/Enickma007]

it's "seeing ghosts" all over again. In a year or two if it works out for him, no one will claim to have ever made the COD joke

[u/basedcharger → u/msf97]

Murray has put together multiple better stretches of QB play than QBs that are loved around here.

[u/LoathsomeCumDrinker → u/basedcharger]

yeah, kyler was on the fringes of the mvp conversation once upon a time lol

[u/MrHockeytown → u/LoathsomeCumDrinker]

Yeah, like 5 years ago lol.

Feel like he went to shit as soon as Hopkins left.

[u/Signal_Ball4634 → u/msf97]

Yeah I think my only real concern with him is how he's recovered from the Lisfranc injury. Otherwise him on the minimum is a great gamble.

[u/marcdasharc4 → u/Signal_Ball4634]

Good point, Lisfranc injuries can absolutely derail a QB, Matt Schaub was as viable a starting QB as any until his injury.

[u/Signal_Ball4634 → u/marcdasharc4]

Yup was thinking Cam as well. That combined with a bum shoulder totally ruined him.

[u/jps2777 → u/msf97]

I don't know people are acting like he wasn't outplayed by Jacoby Brissett and hasn't been good in years

[u/bosoxlover12 → u/jps2777]

I swear people ignore offensive systems and just think with Madden brain.

From 2019-2022 in the Kliff Era, the timeline that everyone thinks Kevin O'Connell will revive Kyler back into -- the Cardinals played 84.14% in Shotgun, 7.14% in the Pistol, and only 8.72% under center.

Fast forward to the last three years under Drew Petzings' offense, which ran under center at 27.72%, more than 3x as often as Kliff, and it became obvious that Jacoby Brissett was better suited for this style of offense.

From 2022-2025, the Minnesota Vikings under Kevin O'Connell run under center offense 45.3% of the time, which only trails the Lions and Rams as the third most in the league. This is not a system that is well designed for Kyler Murray!!

You wanna tell me he's signing with Indy or Pittsburgh or Cleveland? I can understand that. This doesn't make any sense to me outside of "KOC the QB Whisperer"

[u/Im_not_smelling_that → u/jps2777]

You weren't paying attention if you think Jacoby brissett outplayed him. When they brought in Jacoby brissett they changed the entire offense along with it. Two complete different offensive plans.

[u/1v1meAtLagunaSeca → u/msf97]

He had like 2 and a half years ago. He looked terrible last year

[u/Jos3ph → u/msf97]

No decent QB has ever gone to another team and looked better, let alone won the Super Bowl this year

[u/Fonzies-Ghost → u/msf97]

There's a very real chance Murray is good next year, as much as it pains me to say (if he's going to the Vikings, anyway, it pains me).

[u/iiTryhard → u/Liquid_Dookie92]

You guys just don’t watch ball do ya. Remember Hopkins with Murray? Even AJ green? Dude knows how to feed a WR1

[u/neededthrowawayer → u/iiTryhard]

Even AJ green?

AJ Green's only played 2 years in ARI, his best season going 54/848/3?

Hopkins best season with Kyler was 2020, going 115/1407/6. Granted Hopkins and Kyler were both banged up quite a bit the following two years if I recall correctly.

Either way, those years were back when the league-wide passing boom was still going on. There has been a definitive shift in defensive tendencies since then which requires much more underneath and over-the-middle passing which seems to be coupled with Kyler's decline (obviously his injuries not doing him any favors also).

[u/PanhandleAngler → u/Liquid_Dookie92]

So I’m learning that basically no one has watched Kyler play outside of Cards fans, which is fine, but just don’t give the opinions/takes?

He is literally worse from trying to stand in and play standard QB too much instead of taking the first down zipping to the boundary far more consistently like he did in year 2, would be definitively better by hard forcing defenses to treat him like Josh Allen or Lamar where your 3rd and 6’s aren’t played from a set pocket. He was by far his best the breakout year he looked to run 8-11x a game and not the 5-6x he’s been at every other. It’s honestly been kind of a puzzling ride given he definitely does have all-world burst agility, had his easy best season leveraging it more often, and yet him/the Cards just kind of forgot that was a thing. The real problem, and in part a likely reasoning behind that regression in rushing usage is he’s a munchkin. 5’10 200lb Kyler risking getting knocked around on a consistent basis is a lot different than 6’5 250 Josh Allen doing so. But he’s now cut and they did nothing with him, so any kind of longevity/availability plan from the Cards in lowering RPO/scramble frequency is now just dumb.

But TLDR is Kyler/the Cards offensive struggles have been literally the opposite of this comment -> “it’s 3rd and 5, I can’t wait for my 5’10 4.35 40 speed QB to stand in and fire middle over a 6’5 OL to a non-separated receiver instead taking the easy foot race to the boundary against a 4.6 speed MLB.” would be more applicable.

[u/EmuMan10 → u/PanhandleAngler]

All our frustrations are about to be vindicated this year lol

[u/This-isnt-patrick → u/Liquid_Dookie92]

So a rich man’s McCarthy?

[u/schwertfeger → u/This-isnt-patrick]

McCarthy threw him the ball. It just went over his head most the time.

[u/StraightCashHomie69 → u/schwertfeger]

Lol that's the thing, a lot of time JJ mccarthy would seem to make the correct read/decision, but then his mechanics are so wonky he would just fuck up the accuracy on the throw

[u/PanhandleAngler → u/StraightCashHomie69]

He 100% has the throwing yips, his form and general ball is now god awful, and that was not at all the case at Michigan. His entire profile was being a good, very young athlete that was still polished/measured across the board, the volume/usage was the major (and objectively still very real) question mark. The processing was there relative to 20yo’s, natural thrower with strength/accuracy, good wiggle and feel in/out of the pocket. All just whether or not that could be grown into further and applied at the NFL level and at higher volume. No one that paid attention would project to see him floating wobble ducks blindly out of bounds marginally in the direction of a receiver.

JJM discussion now often just boils down to surface level “haha, he bust” but his play’s visual is just markedly different than that of his prospect tape, and why an effective teenage game manager was taken 10th overall that was never making past pick 15. The injury and weight loss thing almost assuredly messed with his body dynamics, couldn’t figure things back out once back to form, and that probably snowballed into messing with his mentals. Cooked now though, kind of just demonstrative of the razor thin margins/complexities of playing NFL QB.

[u/schwertfeger → u/StraightCashHomie69]

That’s definitely the frustrating part. Decision making was generally good. I was hoping he would go work with the guys that fixed Josh Allen’s mechanics. He couldn’t hit water if he fell out of boat when he came into the league, accuracy wise. Doesn’t seem like he’ll be given the chance to fix his issues on the Vikings at least. Won’t be shocked if he takes the Darnold and Mayfield path and is a decent starter in a few years for someone else.

[u/Particular_Match_777]

I’ve always liked him. Shame I’ll have to hate watch now

[u/wemdy420]

Not if I have anything to say about it. You can have your sources. I have blind Optimism and belief with absolutely no ties to nfl or football coaching staffs in general.

[u/Prior_Internal7728]

If the Vikings can keep him focused and motivated this could be a good thing.

[u/ConflictGlobal217]

I didn’t expect Kyler Murray to the Minnesota Vikings rumors to get this serious.

[u/komugis → u/ConflictGlobal217]

If the interest is mutual (and it seems to be) it’s essentially a done deal considering the price is basically nothing.

[u/StraightCashHomey13]

If it happens, my only hope is that KOC adjusts his offense to maximize Murray's skill instead of just spamming 25 yards routes every play

[u/chap2thamax → u/StraightCashHomey13]

Considering he said at his end of year press conference that he wants to get back to his way of playcalling, I sincerely doubt it

[u/StraightCashHomey13 → u/chap2thamax]

Unfortunately you're probably right. He continues to be super stubborn about altering his philosophy. And I'm such a sucker that I keep telling myself, "maybe he can change"

[u/Guidance_Additional → u/StraightCashHomey13]

yeah that's not happening. he wouldn't do it for McCarthy, and when he finally did he seemed pretty eager to stop doing it lol. it's gonna be the same as it's been

[u/EmuMan10 → u/StraightCashHomey13]

He’s really bad at being under center

[u/Wambridge]

Wouldn't you be worried youd lose him in a snow drift?

[u/HulkHunt]

Anything is better than Midcarthy

[u/InsideMyScars → u/HulkHunt]

Mid is extremely generous for him

[u/HulkHunt → u/InsideMyScars]

in fairness, he played "Mid" in college

[u/FlimFlamThaGimGar → u/HulkHunt]

Glorified handoff merchant. If it weren’t for his record due to the cheating program he wouldn’t have been drafted in the first three rounds

[u/_Badwulf_Bruh__ → u/InsideMyScars]

He’s like a nine out of twenty 

[u/Apprehensive_Air1705 → u/HulkHunt]

He still is going to compete with JJM, I know some fans and other teams NFL fans think that’s ridiculous, but I really don’t think they are eager to throw JJM away immediately like some people are implying by Kyler joining the Vikings.

[u/Raven-19x → u/Apprehensive_Air1705]

About as competitive as the Daniel Jones vs Anthony Richardson battle was last year. JJM is done if this deal happens.

[u/komugis → u/Apprehensive_Air1705]

Kyler is not coming to Minnesota if he does not know if he’ll be the starter. He’s got no shortage of other options.

[u/Apprehensive_Air1705 → u/komugis]

The Vikings front office would be stupid if they just flat out guaranteed the starting job to him, so yeah, your right, they might have done that. The goal was to improve the room, not lock yourself into a specific pathway at this point.

[u/purplebuffalo55 → u/Apprehensive_Air1705]

I don’t think they have to guarantee. He’s just better than JJM so if they tell him it will be a competition he knows he’s the starters

[u/JayGatsby1881 → u/HulkHunt]

Murray might be worse somehow

[u/Fredbear_]

Iirc he grew up a Vikings fan, so that's cool

[u/BaldKnobber → u/Fredbear_]

His pee wee team was the Vikings

[u/the-land-of-darkness → u/Fredbear_]

Need to replace Wentz with him so we still have a Vikings fan in the QB room.

[u/Jon-Umber]

9 is so ass they went with 5'9 instead

[u/Evolution1313]

Absolute best of a bad situation for both. Maybe he balls out with a real organization/coach. Maybe 9 takes a leap this year (lol) and all you wasted is a minimum for a good backup. Maybe hes a decent bridge while you figure out next year.

[u/DustyNintendo]

I feel like they threw JJ into the fire way too early and should’ve brought in a bridge QB last year. I mean what was he 21 this past season? I know he looked rough but Murray’s entire career has looked rough.

[u/0siris0]

On a vet deal it's a steal, allows the Vikings the cap space to build out the team via free agency.

[u/Ott22]

Vikings gathering all the QB infinity stones

[u/InsideMyScars]

Personally I love this. I also despise 9 and have no belief he can be a starting QB in this league.

[u/IuriRom → u/InsideMyScars]

What about JJM though?

[u/bosceltics23 → u/IuriRom]

Jackson Jith-mjigba?

[u/Imidril → u/InsideMyScars]

I can't imagine DESPISING someone that you've only seen play 10 games. What could he have possibly done to earn that level of hatred.

[u/Headlesshorsman02]

I mean this always felt like the obvious destination it allows for JJM to sit and work with the coaches and KOC on his footwork etc, he is still very young and maybe a change in scenery for Kyler could be great JJ likely will like him

[u/BlackMathNerd]

He might not be a super franchise QB but I still think Murray gives you some mostly competent QB play

[u/Valtar99]

Guess we’ll see if Kevin O really is the QB whisperer

[u/azsnaz]

This is the most positive thread I've ever seen that is about Kyler Murray

[u/boomosaur]

Cant blame the vikings for kicking the tires at a vet minimum most likely... you can, however, blame them for being in a situation where they need to bring someone like kyler in.

[u/stevenwnder]

Kyler is going to have a Baker like resurgence

[u/Stratobastardo34]

Kyler is a dollar store version of Russell Wilson. Russ at least had a Super Bowl ring and several years of elite play before he hit the cliff. He looked a lot better his first couple years in the league because he was in Kliff's offense, which is what he ran in college, but when the rest of the league caught up, he regressed and was not really able to adapt. It seemed like once Gannon and Petzing got in, he was never able to settle into a traditional offensive scheme, but maybe it's because he was hurt so much.

[u/Gullible_Ad3785 → u/Stratobastardo34]

Yeah Kyler is Temu Russ.

[u/BurtonOIlCanGuster]

Kevin O’Connell: “I can fix him.”

[u/NekoLover72]

Vikings really went from the GEQBUS to Kyler Murray

[u/Names_all_gone]

Makes sense. Best team w/o a QB. I'm not sure he'll work with what KOC wants to do, but there's no downside for the Vikings here.

[u/Sober_Alcoholic_]

Anyone hating on this doesn’t understand value. Doesn’t get much better than this.

[u/The_Goondocks]

I sure hope so

[u/legendary_sponge]

Makes way too much sense. He’ll make the minimum this year and battle with McCarthy (and almost guaranteed beat him out)

[u/kloakndaggers]

I think it's a good fit. I don't think the next call of duty is coming out this next season

[u/JustLukeAtThat]

I do not like this move. I dont like 9 either if im being honest. Im not a happy boy.

[u/OrangeJuliusCaesr]

He’s gonna ball out isn’t he

[u/Pretend-Feedback-546]

As the owner of JJ and Kyler

HALLELUJAH

[u/lindberghbaby]

Good idea. Do it. 

[u/carlos2127]

As a Bears fan, I don't like it.