<p>After a courtship that took longer to consummate than a Victorian marriage, Kyler Murray <a href="https://www.nfl.com/news/kyler-murray-lifelong-vikings-fan-eager-to-capitalize-new-opportunity-minnesota">has signed a deal</a> with the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikes are on the hook for a single season at the league minimum, with <a href="https://defector.com/kyler-murray-dishonorably-discharged">the quarterback’s former employer</a>, the Arizona Cardinals, picking up the rest of the tab. It’s just like the deal that Russell Wilson signed with Pittsburgh after getting curbed by Denver, with the notable exception that Wilson was five years older and many years cornier. Out of all the potential quarterbacks that the Vikings could have plucked off the scrap heap, Murray was the best of a decidedly motley crew.</p>
<p>Of course, Minnesota didn't have to be in this position to begin with. Two years ago, the Vikings signed Sam Darnold to a one-year flyer so that he could serve as a bridge QB while the team spent a year developing then-rookie JJ McCarthy behind the scenes. Darnold was a revelation in 2024, tossing 35 TDs and leading the Vikings to 14 wins. Then he fell apart in the final two games of that season, including a woeful performance in a wild-card loss to the Rams, and the Vikings (and their fans) decided that one year of Darnold was all the Darnold they required.</p>
<p>They decided wrong. Infamously so. Darnold went to Seattle and immediately won his new team a Super Bowl. McCarthy—and <a href="https://defector.com/j-j-mccarthy-sucks">maybe you heard about this</a>—did not. In just one season, Minnesota went from having the best deep passing attack in football to having no passing attack at all. To make matters worse, the Vikings had also failed to retain QB Daniel Jones for the 2025 season, leaving Max Brosmer and a half-deceased Carson Wentz as the only other options in their QB room. I’ve had more fun watching a fish die out of water.</p>