While the Vikings haven't had as splashy of a free agency as recent years, they've managed to make some significant moves while navigating a tricky cap salary position.

One of those moves, of course, is adding veteran Kyler Murray to the quarterbacks room.

ESPN's Seth Walder recently graded free agency transactions across the NFL, and he gave Minnesota an "A" for the Murray signing, saying the Vikings "pulled off an absolute coup at the game's most important position."

Walder pointed out Minnesota was able to sign Murray for the veteran minimum because he'll still be receiving his guaranteed contract from Arizona. Though Murray "played poorly relative to the previous six seasons of his career" in five games for the Cardinals last season, Walder noted "there were also circumstances that raised the difficulty level." He wrote:

The Cardinals had the second-lowest success rate on designed runs in games that Murray played. That likely contributed to Murray facing light boxes 79% of the time (a high rate), and his play-action rate was down from 29% in 2024 to 20%.

But it was just five games! And Murray delivered the ninth-best QBR in the league (63.5) with a plus-2% completion percentage over expected (seventh best) and 4.9% sack rate (seventh best) the season before.

While we'll point out that the Vikings have not named their starter and have emphasized competition at the position, Walder opined that "if it breaks right, Murray can help the Vikings be a playoff threat now," saying he's "not going to doubt" the coaching staff.

Both [Head Coach Kevin] O'Connell and Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores have shown an ability to give their team a schematic advantage and elevate their units over the sum of their parts.

And if Murray can find his form? Then he's throwing to one of the best, if not the best, wide receivers in football in Justin Jefferson. Between Murray, Jefferson, Jordan Addison and O'Connell, I'm pretty confident they'll be able to cook up some big plays in the passing game.

Murray is part of a position group in Minnesota that also includes 2024 No. 10 pick J.J. McCarthy, 2025 undrafted rookie Max Brosmer and veteran Carson Wentz, who recently re-signed to stay in Purple.

View Walder's full evaluation of league free agency moves here.

Condolences for family of Phil Wise

The Vikings are sending condolences to the family of former defensive back Phil Wise, who capped his nine-season NFL career with Minnesota from 1977-79.

Wise appeared in 30 games for the Vikings and made 16 starts, recording three interceptions, a forced fumble and fumble recovery.

He began his NFL career as a sixth-round pick of the New York Jets in 1971 and started 37 of 62 games played for his original squad. Wise recorded three interceptions and eight fumble recoveries for the Jets, highlighted by his 80-yard return touchdown against the Baltimore Colts in 1973.

After football, Wise worked on the radio airwaves for KQRS 92.5-FM in Minnesota.

The Nebraska native played college football at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where he earned all-conference honors once as a defensive back and twice as a running back.

Wise passed away March 13 at the age of 76.

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