While everyone continues to argue about where Sam Darnold will end up this offseason, Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. might have just shared what his plans are for free agency when his contract officially expires next week.
On Wednesday, Murphy shared an Instagram story online that featured a two-minute video of highlights from his 2024 season with the Vikings. No caption or anything was added to the video, it was just pure highlights.
What might this mean? Many Minnesota fans would likely hope this means Murphy is close to signing a deal that will keep him with the franchise for at least one more season. However, it could also be the cornerback's way of reflecting on his final time in a Vikings uniform.
Competition could drive up the cost for the Minnesota Vikings to re-sign Byron Murphy Jr.
Currently, PFF has Murphy ranked as the fourth-best cornerback available in free agency this year and the 18th-best overall player available. Minnesota would like him to return, but he's expected to have plenty of interest from a number of other teams around the NFL as well.
Spotrac has Murphy's current market value at $22.1 million per year, which might be close to the absolute max of what the Vikings are willing to pay him if they want to bring him back for the 2025 campaign. However, if another team presents the cornerback with an offer that will pay him even more per season than that projected market value, then Minnesota might just let him go get his money elsewhere.
For some, $22.1 million per year probably seems like a high price to pay for a player like Murphy, who just made the first Pro Bowl roster of his six-year NFL career in 2024. But with how quickly the league's salary cap is increasing each offseason (risen by nearly $100 million since 2021), that price might seem like a bargain in a few years.
Regardless of what Murphy's Instagram story of Wednesday means, it won't be much longer until we officially find out where he'll be playing next season, as the NFL's legal tampering period begins next Monday, March 10th, and new contracts can be finalized as early as next Wednesday, March 12th at 3 p.m. CST.