The Minnesota Vikings are hoping for a return to the playoffs in 2026, and their hopes will likely hinge on Kyler Murray. The favorite over J.J. McCarthy in the competition for the starting quarterback job, Murray has reportedly already gotten off to a fast start during OTAs and has many in the NFL predicting great things if he can come away with the job.
The latest to add fuel to the hype train is ESPN’s Mike Tannenbaum. The former general manager of the New York Jets revealed he was bullish in a list of 100 predictions for the upcoming season, and he also believes that it could lead to Murray winning some hardware by the end of the year.
“Murray steps into an ideal system with coach Kevin O’Connell and receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. I think the Vikings can go 11-6, clinch the NFC North and win a playoff game with the former Cardinals QB at the helm.”
Hype train for Minnesota Vikings QB Kyler Murray keeps churning as Comeback Player of the Year buzz grows
Tannenbaum basically laid out the common argument as to why Murray will succeed in Minnesota. After years in the desert with an average supporting cast, Murray called the Vikings' weapons “top-tier” when referring to Jefferson, Addison, Jauan Jennings, and T.J. Hockenson.
He also has elite play-caller Kevin O’Connell on the sidelines, two years after he revived Sam Darnold’s career in Minnesota.
Darnold’s success, which led him to win a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks after leaving in free agency, has to be at the front of Murray’s mind, and it has to be the blueprint to earn his next big NFL contract after signing for the veteran minimum ($1.2 million) with the Vikings last offseason.
But Murray also has to be able to finish this comeback story. While ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reported the quarterback competition “was not close” from what media members saw from open sessions from last week’s OTAs, it’s important to note there’s a long way to go to win the job at the end of the summer.
Even then, Murray has to stay on the field. He’s missed at least one game in four of the past five seasons and was limited to five games as he dealt with a Lisfranc injury that included a blood flow issue, according to SI’s Albert Breer.
There’s also a hot and cold element to his game that could give McCarthy a second chance if he stumbles late in the season, which could derail any talk of being one of the league’s best comeback stories.
Still, many have jumped on Murray’s hype wagon as the OTAs slowly pick up, and it’s a golden opportunity to rehab his reputation that was damaged in his final years with the Cardinals.
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