As is the case with every offseason, the Minnesota Vikings have a number of important decisions to make during the next few months when it comes to the future of the organization, especially once free agency begins in March.
Currently, the Vikings are projected to have a little more than $58 million in cap space when the new league year begins on March 12th. That's enough for Minnesota to re-sign some of their notable free agents this offseason, but not all of them if they want to add any of the top external free agents who will be available this year as well.
Behind Sam Darnold, cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. might be the most notable member of the 2024 Vikings who is currently scheduled to hit free agency in March. Unfortunately, a recent report seems to indicate that Murphy probably won't be on the field in a Minnesota uniform when the team returns to play next season.
Expectation is that Byron Murphy Jr. won't re-sign with Minnesota Vikings this year, according to NFL insider
PFF projects Murphy to land a three-year contract worth $52 million this offseason, which, at an annual average salary of $17.33 million per year, would make him the 13th highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.
Some might think that's a reasonable amount to pay Murphy after the performance he had during the 2024 season, but it doesn't sound like the Vikings are going to be willing to give him that type of money.
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler on Wednesday, "the sense" is that Minnesota is going to let "Murphy walk" this offseason, and let him cash in with another team.
Considering Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin are also free agents this year, there's a chance that, this offseason, the Vikings could move on from the three cornerbacks who played the most snaps for them in the 2024 campaign.
If these three corners leave this year, Minnesota will definitely have to add some new members to the position group as they would only be left with Mekhi Blackmon (who will be coming off a torn ACL) and Dwight McGlothern (a 2024 undrafted free agent) as their two best cornerbacks under contract through the 2025 season.
There's still time for the Vikings to change their mind about Murphy, but currently, it seems like there's a good chance that the team will enter the 2025 season with someone new in the No. 1 spot on their cornerback depth chart.