Bleacher Report Trashes Vikings’ QB Plan

Steven Bisig

Just when Minnesota Vikings fans expressed the utmost enthusiasm that Kyler Murray entered the mix at quarterback, Bleacher Report came along for the buzzkill. That outlet ranked the NFL’s worst quarterback situations heading into 2026, and Minnesota made the cut.

The outside view on Minnesota’s QB plan remains rough, even with upside still on the table.

The New York Jets took the cake as the worst in the business, with the Vikings checking in at No. 6.

The National Skepticism Hasn’t Gone Away

The Murray experiment apparently won’t work, says Brad Gagnon.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) walks off the field following a decisive road victory, reflecting on a strong offensive showing against a division rival. Oct 3, 2021 captured the moment at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, where Murray helped lead Arizona to a convincing 37-20 win over the Rams. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.

BR: Vikings Have NFL’s 6th-Worst QB Situation

Gagnon didn’t hold back when ranking 2026 QB rooms, explaining, “Why it’s Bad: In practically every way you can measure a quarterback, J.J. McCarthy was the least qualified passer in the NFL during his sophomore campaign. Now they’ve added Kyler Murray, who missed significant action in three of his last four seasons in Arizona and has a 90.3 passer rating since 2022.

“Silver Lining: As with Atlanta, you’re looking at two highly drafted guys in their 20s working with strong weapons and a stellar offensive line. And if it’s a crapshoot, at least they get two rolls of the dice. They’re also both cheap. Outlook: The problem is that both have proven injury-prone. It’s really hard to imagine either becoming a consistently reliable option.”

Worse than the Vikings per Gagnon? Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and Arizona Cardinals.

One Thing after Another

The Vikings employed Kirk Cousins for six seasons. About 40% of the team’s fan base wasn’t thrilled about that. Then, they signed Sam Darnold in free agency and drafted J.J. McCarthy in the 1st Round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Darnold balled out before faceplanting at the most crucial time, and Minnesota didn’t re-sign him. He won a Super Bowl 11 months later in Seattle. McCarthy tore his meniscus and missed his entire rookie season. When he healed, he struggled in his first season as a starter and is apparently injury-prone.

The solution? The Vikings signed Kyler Murray for 1.3 million bucks.

The reaction from Bleacher Report? This quarterback room isn’t any good. The Vikings cannot win at quarterback, nor can the public perception be satisfied.

Starting All Over if BR Is Right

Thankfully, if Gagnon has it right, and the quarterback room stinks, well, Minnesota will likely undergo significant change in the 2027 offseason. Suppose the Murray experiment flops. The Vikings might fire Kevin O’Connell and totally reset everything.

Then, the 2027 draft class is loaded with quarterbacks. The team would start over, with Murray and McCarthy almost assuredly gone.

SI.com‘s Albert Breer wrote this week, “With more than a dozen guys considered in this running and the chance that others emerge from outside the group, there’s a good chance next year will be a quarterback-rich year for teams in need.”

“The list is long: Oregon’s Dante Moore, Texas’s Arch Manning, Notre Dame’s CJ Carr, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, USC’s Jayden Maiava, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, LSU’s Sam Leavitt, Texas Tech’s Brendan Sorsby, Ole Miss’s Trinidad Chambliss, Oklahoma’s John Mateer, Miami’s Darian Mensah and UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava.”

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) is escorted toward the locker room after taking a hit, creating concern during first-half action on the road. Dec 21, 2025 showed the scene at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, where the Vikings faced uncertainty at quarterback against the New York Giants. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images.

There’s an option for a do-over button, but that will only happen if the Vikings, indeed, have a trashy quarterback room, which remains to be seen.

The Upside with Murray

Murray’s skill set would be an asset to almost any NFL team, offering the potential for immediate improvement. Over a 17-game season, he consistently produces around 4,000 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, and 600 rushing yards — impressive statistics that make the Vikings, with their established foundation, an intriguing spot.

Brian Flores’s arrival three seasons ago transformed the Vikings into a defensive powerhouse. In 2024 and 2025, Minnesota ranked second and third, respectively, in EPA per play. Over the last three seasons, the Vikings have boasted the league’s second-best overall defense by that metric, a stark contrast to Arizona’s 30th-place ranking in the same timeframe. This defensive turnaround will significantly benefit Murray, moving him from one of the league’s worst defensive environments to one of its most reliable.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) watches from the field as the second quarter winds down, surveying the situation during a road matchup in Florida. Sep 26, 2021 highlighted the setting at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, where Murray remained engaged as Arizona controlled the game against the Jaguars. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports.

Minnesota also possesses an impressive array of offensive weapons. Murray can utilize Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, Jordan Mason, and Aaron Jones, and potentially add promising rookies. While Arizona has provided Murray with capable targets, Jefferson elevates Minnesota’s offensive capabilities. Addison further complicates defensive strategies.

In this context, Murray’s role becomes simple: just distribute the damn ball to his playmakers, maintain efficiency, and trust O’Connell’s system. Given that Murray’s career completion percentage ranks fifth all-time in the NFL, he appears to be a seamless fit within O’Connell’s offense, suggesting a high probability of success in Minnesota.

It’s now up to Murray and O’Connell to prove sites like Bleacher Report wrong.