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Vikings’ Big QB Bet Earns Top Offseason Grade

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Kyler Murray takes the field for pregame warmups at SoFi Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray took the field for pregame warmups before facing the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, with the venue reflected in his face shield. On January 3, 2021, in Inglewood, California, Murray prepared for the regular-season finale as Arizona readied for a divisional road matchup in Southern California. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images.

The Minnesota Vikings needed a quarterback to hedge the bet against J.J. McCarthy’s out-of-nowhere injury resume, landing on Kyler Murray, who was booted off the Arizona Cardinals‘ roster, in March for $1.3 million. Because of that value — it’s quite incredible — Bleacher Report has decided that Minnesota gets an ‘A’ offseason grade for the transaction.

Vikings fans are excited to see Murray’s debut in September, and in the meantime, the move is drawing stellar reviews.

Murray Move Gives Vikings Offseason a National Dub

Kyler Murray watches Jonathan Gannon’s introductory Cardinals press conference.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray sits in the front row at the team’s Tempe training facility as Jonathan Gannon is introduced as the franchise’s new head coach. On Feb. 16, 2023, Murray watched the news conference from close range while Arizona began another attempt to reset its coach-quarterback partnership for the organization’s future. Mandatory Credit: Arizona Cardinals.

BR: Murray to Vikings Gets an ‘A’

Moe Moton of Bleacher Report handed out a few ‘A’ grades this week, and Murray was among the recipients.

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He wrote, “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 in seven seasons.”

“The 28-year-old could be a Comeback Player of the Year candidate. Despite inconsistent quarterback play, the Vikings barely missed the 2025 postseason, finishing 9-8 behind the 9-7-1 Green Bay Packers. Murray doesn’t need a Sam Darnold rebirth-type season to lead Minnesota to the playoffs. If he stays healthy and gets the ball to wide receivers Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings, the Vikings’ passing attack should be far better than last year’s 29th-ranked unit.”

Other passers like Malik Willis and Mac Jones frequented the Vikings’ February and March rumor mill, but Murray ultimately took the plunge.

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“Furthermore, the Vikings’ low-risk, high-reward signing at quarterback gives them a chance to re-evaluate their plan for J.J. McCarthy after he struggled mightily last season, throwing for 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions with a 57.6 percent completion rate, Moton added.”

“Keep in mind, they fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who drafted McCarthy, and hired Nolan Tinsley to replace him. Murray could revitalize his career in a new chapter with the Vikings. Grade: A.”

Every Team Should’ve Signed Murray at That Price

Not only is Murray a wonderful value for the Vikings, every team in the league, including squads with elite passers like Josh Allen and Joe Burrow, should’ve called Murray in March. To find a starting quarterback — who produces 3,900+ passing yards, 30 total TDS, and 600+ rushing yards every 17 starts — for $1.3 million is just absurd and mind-boggling.

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How’d it happen? Simple — the Cardinals cut ties, only to turn around and pay Murray’s tab for 2026. You can’t offload a big NFL contract before its expiration without consequences. So, the price of a fresh start for Arizona was indeed paying Murray to play for the Vikings.

Even if Murray completely flops — plays terribly or blows out a knee, for example — he was worth the price to find out at $1.3 million.

Extreme QB Depth

The Vikings’ intense focus on quarterback depth this offseason is a logical response to recent history.

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Minnesota has experienced two seasons derailed by quarterback injuries. The 2023 campaign took a nosedive the moment Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles. Then the 2025 season became chaotic as J.J. McCarthy sustained repeated injuries. By the end of it, the Vikings had learned their lesson twice over. Their message was clear: “Enough is enough.”

J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray work through Vikings minicamp practice.
Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray work through minicamp practice reps at TCO Performance Center as Kevin O’Connell’s staff evaluates a reshaped quarterback room. On June 11, 2026, the two passers continued building timing and command during Day 3 of team highlights inside Minnesota’s offseason program in Eagan, Minnesota, that summer. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.

So, the 2026 offseason prompted them to aggressively acquire multiple viable quarterback options. The roster now features Murray and McCarthy. Carson Wentz is on hand as backup, and Max Brosmer can develop without intense pressure.

Murray, naturally, is the showstopper. If he remains healthy for all 17 games, Minnesota can realistically harbor playoff aspirations, as Kevin O’Connell typically thrives with an experienced quarterback. The primary concern, however, is Murray’s history of missing games. His availability has been an ongoing issue for years, and it would be imprudent to ignore that trend.

And if Murray is sidelined in 2026, Minnesota will not be caught off guard or forced to scramble for a last-minute replacement (see: Joshua Dobbs in 2023). McCarthy is poised to step in as a formidable Plan B, a role for which he has every incentive to excel, given his high potential.

Other Offseason Additions and Subtractions

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The Jonathan Greenard trade was pivotal — and not entirely ideal. In April, Minnesota sent Greenard and a 7th-round pick to Philadelphia in exchange for two 3rd-rounders. The move not only acquired additional draft capital but also created space for Jauan Jennings, securing a legitimate WR3 for the Vikings and providing crucial salary cap relief in 2027 and 2028.

Given the Vikings’ need to reconstruct much of their roster on a tighter budget, they still faced numerous remaining needs.

Their free-agent acquisitions included:

  • Johnny Hekker (P)
  • Jauan Jennings (WR)
  • Eric Johnson (DT)
  • Isaiahh Loudermilk (DT)
  • Kyler Murray (QB)
  • James Pierre (CB)
  • Ryan Van Demark (OT)
Jauan Jennings discusses joining the Vikings with Tatum Everett. Kyler Murray
New Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jauan Jennings sits down with Vikings Entertainment Network’s Tatum Everett to discuss his decision to join Minnesota and enter Kevin O’Connell’s offense. On May 27, 2026, Jennings described his first weeks with the team, the receiver room, and the physical mentality behind his playing style after leaving San Francisco. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.

And from the draft, they grabbed:

Round 1 — Caleb Banks | DT
Round 2 — Jake Golday | LB
Round 3 — Domonique Orange | DT
Round 3 — Caleb Tiernan | OT
Round 3 — Jakobe Thomas | S
Round 5 — Max Bredeson | TE
Round 5 — Charles Demmings | CB
Round 6 — Demond Claiborne | RB
Round 7 — Gavin Gerhardt | OL

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Here’s the wild part about this offseason: it really seemed like Minnesota was strapped for cash, and in some ways, they were. But somehow, they still managed to bring in a starting quarterback, a new WR3, and a ton of young help for the defensive line.

And per Bleacher Report, the Murray addition takes the grand prize.


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Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

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Enzo Maresca press conference LIVE Man City transfer updates and pre-season team news

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Kovacic is set to stay at City this season after talks with the club hierarchy. The Croatian only has one year remaining on his contract and had been linked with a return to Inter but has been backed to be part of Enzo Maresca’s squad at the Etihad.

Kovacic told reporters in Hong Kong that he never felt any doubts from the club over his future and is happy to remain in Manchester for another year. Having missed most of last season with injury after needing two separate surgeries on an Achilles problem, the Croatian is looking to make up for lost time and prove his importance to Maresca.

“I didn’t feel the question marks from them. I spoke with them, it was that they count on me, which was important for me to hear that from them,” he said. “And now, like I said, for the players it’s always on you to show your best version, because if you’re playing good, the manager will put you first.”

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Dates, stages, and number of teams

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The BGMI Masters Series (BGMS) Season 5 will begin on August 10, 2026, with 24 teams. Nodwin Gaming has not yet revealed the names of all the participants. The tournament will take place in three stages, including League, Playoffs, and Grand Finals, and will be hosted offline in Delhi NCR.

The BGMS is a major third-party Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) event. Every year, Nodwin Gaming organizes this contest with a huge prize pool. The previous four seasons of the tournament have attracted massive viewership and were among the most successful BGMI events.

The inaugural edition of the BGMS featured a huge prize pool of ₹1.52 crore. The second and third editions boasted ₹2.1 crore and $1 crore, respectively. The fourth iteration was held with a total prize pool of ₹1.43 crore.


Dates for BGMS Season 5

The League Stage of the event will be held over three weeks, from August 10 to 30; the Playoffs will be hosted over three days, from August 31 to October 2; and the Grand Finals will be held from September 4 to 6, where the top 16 teams from the previous two stages will fight for the trophy.

Here are the dates for each stage of the event:

1) League Stage

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  • League Week 1 – August 10 to 13
  • Bounty Weekend – August 14 to 16
  • League Week 2 – August 17 to 20
  • Super Weekend 1 – August 21 to 23
  • League Week 3 – August 24 to 27
  • Super Weekend 2 – August 28 to 30

2) Playoffs – August 31 to September 2

3) Grand Finals – September 4 to 6

Of the 24 participants, 20 will be invited directly to the BGMS Season 5. Four teams from the TVS Raider Wicked Battles have qualified for the contest.

Santa Esports emerged victorious in the TVS Wicked Battles 2026. White Walkers, Hexnova, and Aura X Esports were second, third, and fourth, respectively. These four underdogs have secured their spots in the BGMS Season 5.

K9 Esports was the winner of the previous edition of the tournament. The omega-led roster put in a top-notch performance to win its first major title. However, the organisation bid farewell to the lineup on April 18, 2026; they will be seen playing under Team Outrage’s banner in the upcoming BGMS Season 5.

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In the coming days, Nodwin Gaming will reveal all the event details, such as format, schedule, prize pool, and more. All matches of the tournament will be livestreamed on Nodwin Gaming’s YouTube channel.