When the Minnesota Vikings signed quarterback Kyler Murray during the offseason, it signaled to the rest of the NFC North that this team is ready to be serious about a run for a division title in 2026.
Last season featured too many struggles at the quarterback position to the point that the Vikings had to bring in a proven starter like Murray to provide experience. Bleacher Report's Moe Moton recently named the Green Bay Packers as his team he predicts will finish last in the division, with Murray playing a key role in that.
"Without Parsons to mask coverage issues in the secondary, the Packers could be off to a slow start this year. If the Minnesota Vikings offense looks sharp with quarterback Kyler Murray, Green Bay could be in an uphill climb to stay out of the NFC North basement."
Minnesota Vikings QB Kyler Murray could deal Green Bay Packers fatal blow in NFC North during 2026 season
Even with Parsons and the pass rushers the Packers have, it will still be tough for them to defend against Murray. A big reason for that is that Murray is a great athlete who can use his legs to get receivers open or run the ball to pick up yards.
That was an element of the Vikings' offense that has been missing over the years under head coach Kevin O'Connell. Typically, O'Connell likes his pocket quarterbacks to stand in and make the throws. Murray can really open up the offense in ways not seen in Minneapolis in a long time.
In a competitive NFC North division, the Vikings need a way to stand out from the rest. Last year, the Chicago Bears leaned on quarterback Caleb Williams' athletic abilities to help them win the division and take down the Packers in the NFC Wild Card Round.
Imagine Murray doing the same thing, but doing it with a higher completion percentage than Williams. Over the last two years, Williams has had a 62 percent completion rate in 2024, then dipped to 58 percent last year. With Murray, he had a completion rate of over 68 percent in each of the last two seasons.
This Vikings team will clearly be different from the one that the fan base had to deal with last year, with inconsistent play at quarterback. Murray is a weapon who can do a lot for this team and help it move away from the bottom of the NFC North, leaving the Packers to land there.
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