10
Loading video...
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
This might be the most obvious pick in the entire NFC North, but that doesn't make it any less true: 2026 could be Kyler Murray's last real chance as a starting quarterback in the NFL.
Murray's final stretch in Arizona was rough. A foot injury in Week 5 of the 2025 season limited him to just five games, in which he threw for 926 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions, posting a career-low QBR of 47.2.
The Cardinals moved on from the former No. 1 overall pick in March, choosing to release him outright and eat the $36.8 million in guaranteed money just to get rid of him.
Read More on NFL
The Minnesota Vikings swooped in right away and signed him to a one-year, veteran-minimum deal, a low-risk, high-reward move to have him compete for the starting job with the Vikings' former 10th overall pick, J.J. McCarthy.
McCarthy struggled in 2025, his first full season as the starter, completing just 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, posting a league-worst 35.6 QBR in 10 starts. That's why everybody assumes Murray will win the starting job.
And with what he's been surrounded with in Minnesota, if this team doesn't look better than its 9-8 record a year ago, the blame will fall squarely on Murray.
More news: Denver Broncos Player Facing the Most Pressure in 2026
...
More news: Jacksonville Jaguars Player Facing the Most Pressure in 2026
Head coach Kevin O'Connell has built a reputation as one of the league's top quarterback developers — he resurrected Sam Darnold's career with the Vikings in 2024, and Darnold went on to win a Super Bowl with the Seahawks the very next season.
That track record is exactly why fans bought in when Minnesota traded up to take McCarthy 10th overall in 2024. If O'Connell saw enough in him to make that move, it's fair to assume there's real talent there.
But if the Vikings' offense struggled that badly with McCarthy under one of the best play callers in football, and it still struggles again with Murray running it, that may say everything you need to know about the former Heisman winner.
Murray has five seasons with at least 400 rushing yards, earned back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2020 and 2021, and was once a legitimate MVP candidate as one of the best dual-threat QBs in the NFL. That wasn't all that long ago, and he's never had a coach like O'Connell.
He's also never had the type of weapons he does in Minnesota. Justin Jefferson is arguably the best wide receiver in football, Jordan Addison is an ascending, explosive young talent, Jauan Jennings is a reliable veteran, and tight end T.J. Hockenson is a two-time Pro Bowler.
Murray turns 29 in August, has dealt with injuries for much of his career, and was just released by the very team that drafted him. If he can't make it work this year in Minnesota, it's hard to imagine any other team betting on him to be their starter again.
More news: New York Jets Player Facing the Most Pressure in 2026
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines