Kyler Murray had plenty of good reasons to sign with the Minnesota Vikings last spring. Since Kevin O’Connell took over as head coach in 2022, the Vikings have become the team where quarterbacks go to revive their careers. But while O’Connell has played a big role, the biggest reason may be the team’s supporting cast.
With Justin Jefferson at receiver, O’Connell at the controls and a defense that lightens the load, the Vikings have changed the narrative on the careers of Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold.
But Murray’s bid to follow in those may run into a problem after ESPN analysts Mike Clay, Aaron Schatz and Seth Walder recently ranked the Vikings’ projected starting lineup 22nd in the NFL ahead of the 2026 season.
The article, which asked each analyst to rank every lineup in the league and considered factors such as talent, age and production for a final ranking, may be hard for some Vikings fans to wrap their heads around.
But it also is a warning sign of a problem that appeared last season and could derail Murray’s chance to reach his full potential.
Minnesota Vikings supporting cast must live up to the hype to help Kyler Murray in 2026
The Vikings' current roster looks good on paper, and Clay noted it starts at the receiver position. Better quarterback play should get Jefferson back to his elite standard and help Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson catch more passes.
The addition of free agent Jauan Jennings also added some depth to this group, but the problems lie elsewhere.
Clay noted that the running back position is one weakness, as the Vikings brought back an underwhelming duo of Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones and only added Demond Claiborne to fill out the roster.
Walder noted that the offensive line is another concern after Will Fries struggled at guard, Blake Brandel was thrown into the center position, and Christian Darrisaw struggled in his return from a multiligament knee injury last season.
“Will Fries struggled last season at guard after signing a big free agent contract, with a sixth percentile pass block win rate. But he boasts upside, as does fellow guard Donovan Jackson.
...Blake Brandel played 347 snaps at center last season in his first time playing the position in the NFL. He is expected to start there again in 2026. How those three players improve could play a big role in how much offensive success the Vikings have this season.”
But while it wasn’t mentioned, even the defense has its question marks. Trading Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles was a big loss, and it leaves a few established veterans (Andrew Van Ginkel, Blake Cashman, Byron Murphy Jr.) around plenty of question marks, including Dallas Turner, Caleb Banks, and a safety position that may not have Harrison Smith.
With O’Connell calling the plays and Brian Flores leading the defense, the coaching may make up for the lack of talent.
That may also be the reason why Murray signed in Minnesota after things bottomed out in Arizona, whose starting lineup was tied for 29th in the article. But it also could lead to a similar outcome to last season.
While J.J. McCarthy lacked experience and refinement, the belief was that the supporting cast would elevate him to a baseline level of quarterback play that could help Minnesota remain competitive in his first year as a starter
McCarthy’s poor play didn’t help matters; the supporting cast around him didn’t live up to the hype.
Addison missed the first three games and returned to log a career-high seven drops and a 14.3 percent drop rate, according to PFF. Jefferson and Hockenson didn’t have years that matched their high ceiling, and having Darrisaw in and out of the lineup sank the offensive line.
With Ryan Kelly, Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave all failing to live up to their high-dollar free agent contracts, things got worse, and even the coaching staff shared some of the blame, with O’Connell refusing to change his offense until the Vikings were virtually eliminated from playoff contention with a 4-8 record.
Of course, you can talk yourself into everything going right and Murray helping the Vikings enjoy a rebound season. But it won’t matter if the players around him live up to his potential.
As the ESPN article suggests, that could be like playing a slot machine, and it could have the Vikings’ gamble coming up short during the 2026 season.
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