Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
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The Minnesota Vikings won’t commit to JJ McCarthy as their quarterback of the future and have yet to commit to his competition for the job this offseason.
However, wide receiver Justin Jefferson just offered a significant hint on the team’s plans under center via his latest social media action.
“Justin Jefferson and Kyler Murray appear to have recently followed each other on Instagram as rumors swirl around the Vikings going after the Cardinals’ now former quarterback,” Evan Sidery reported via X. “Murray reportedly already has a top potential destination in mind, which easily could be Minnesota.”
Evan Sidery
Justin Jefferson and Kyler Murray appear to have recently followed each other on Instagram as rumors swirl around the Vikings going after the Cardinals’ now former quarterback.
Murray reportedly already has a top potential destination in mind, which easily could be Minnesota.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported in February that every quarterback likely to hit free agency, find himself on the trade block or otherwise end up available had the Vikings at the top of their list of destinations.
Vikings Can Probably Add Kyler Murray for League Minimum Next Season
Kyler Murray, Vikings
GettyArizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.
Murray’s time with the Arizona Cardinals will officially end on March 11, if not before then, per a recent ESPN report.
“After months of speculation about Murray’s future with the team, Arizona has informed the 2019 No. 1 draft pick that they plan to release him next Wednesday, when the new league year begins, barring a trade, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday,” Josh Weinfuss wrote Tuesday.
A trade for Murray now reads as unlikely, particularly with the official news of his pending release. By cutting Murray, the Cardinals have essentially freed him up to sign anywhere he would like and/or with any team that will have him for the veteran’s league minimum of $1.3 million.
That makes the two-time Pro Bowler a prime candidate for the Vikings given that several of their other options are long-in-the-tooth veterans like Kirk Cousins or Geno Smith who likely don’t profile inside Minnesota’s front office as long-term starting alternatives to McCarthy.
Kyler Murray Was Top-10 in QBR During 2024 Season
Kyler Murray Arizona Cardinals
GettyQuarterback Kyler Murray of the Arizona Cardinals
Dan Graziano of ESPN reported in recent days that Murray is firmly on the Vikings’ radar, a report that should have only gained credence since Schefter broke the news of his impending release.
“Particularly if you look at these guys — Kyler Murray, Geno Smith — if they get released by their current teams and are available for cheap, for veteran minimum deals, I think that’s the kind of guy the Vikings have in mind,” Graziano said. “[They could] come in and start and would get JJ McCarthy’s attention and would help give them a little more time to evaluate whether JJ McCarthy remains viable for the future without the pressure of having to play and win right now.”
Murray very recently posted among the top-10 QBRs in the league.
“Though Murray’s play dropped off last season, he’s only one year removed from a 63.4 QBR in 2024, the ninth best that season,” Seth Walder of ESPN wrote in late February.
Jefferson would almost certainly benefit from Murray under center after the wideout put up career-lows of 1,048 yards and two touchdowns last season, during which McCarthy started 10 games.