This offseason, the Minnesota Vikings acquired two-time Pro Bowler and former Offensive Player of the Year, Kyler Murray, to address last season's quarterback issues after younger player JJ McCarthy struggled to perform as expected. With Murray on a one-year contract at the veteran minimum, he now faces the pressure and scrutiny that will come along with trying to prove he's the ideal quarterback the team needs for the future. According to ESPN's Stephen A.
Smith, this upcoming season might be a final opportunity for Murray to show he's worthy of remaining in the NFL. "I think his future in the NFL is on the line, I truly believe that," Smith said on ESPN's "First Take," mentioning that Murray now has talented receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, and tight end T.J. More news: Drake Maye Accepts Blame for ‘Unacceptable’ Play in Patriots’ Loss "Kyler Murray can't come in there with the weapons that he has at his disposal, along with Kevin O'Connell as coach and play-caller; he can't turn around and struggle and still look forward to a prosperous NFL future.
That just can't happen," the ESPN star said. Smith continued to point out that there are just "too many weapons" on the Vikings roster for Murray not to show he can perform exceptionally well. The ESPN star also suggested the Vikings got "lucky" that their star receiver, Jefferson, didn't request a trade after they essentially "wasted" a season of his NFL career experimenting with McCarthy as QB.
"Now you got Kyler Murray. You got a talent that clearly is a dual threat, that can throw the football, albeit undersized height-wise. ... He needs to show up and remind everybody why he was a No. 1 overall pick and play like it.
Otherwise, his career could be in jeopardy because there are very few jobs he's gonna have in the NFL that's gonna be as lofty as this one, with these weapons to throw the football to," Smith also said. Jefferson played in all 17 games for Minnesota last season, tallying 1,048 yards and two touchdowns on 84 receptions. Those, along with his average of 12.5 yards per reception, were career lows for the talented wide receiver.
Addison played in all but three games, racking up the second-most receiving yards of any player, with 610 yards and three touchdowns. Hockenson had 438 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games for the Vikings, and all three could see a surge in their numbers this season if Murray performs as the Vikings hope. Murray, the Arizona Cardinals' No. 1 pick in 2019, is looking at a fresh start after failing to lead his former team to the success they hoped for in his seven seasons as their QB.
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