The Minnesota Vikings are in an interesting position this offseason.
The team has a stout defense and a couple of the best position players in the league, but the quarterback spot is a massive question. J.J. McCarthy, who the team just used a first-round pick on in 2024, disappointed in 2025, which made the team make a bold move this offseason.
The Vikings signed Kyler Murray, who was cut by the Arizona Cardinals after the worst season of his career. There’s reason to believe Murray could have a career resurgence in Minnesota, though, and one analyst is especially bullish.
Analyst predicts Kyler Murray to win CPOY, make Pro Bowl
Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport recently published some bold predictions for the 2026 season. Included was a prediction that Murray will not only win the starting quarterback job, but also make the Pro Bowl and win the Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Regarding this prediction, Davenport offered the following:
Beating out McCarthy shouldn’t be especially difficult—Murray has shown exponentially more upside in the pros than McCarthy has over two injury-marred years.
The tools are there for Murray in Minnesota—the Vikes have a decent offensive line and run game and Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings are one of the better wide receiver trios in the league. Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell has already brought one quarterback back to life in Sam Darnold in 2024.
Add it all up, and it will be time for another Lazarus act, with Murray leading the Vikings to the postseason, making his third Pro Bowl and winning Comeback Player of the Year.
As Davenport mentioned, Murray has shown much more than McCarthy as a pro and has played at a Pro Bowl level in the past. Plus, Kevin O’Connell has had plenty of success with quarterbacks in the past, so why not Murray?
The Vikings have an enviable wide receiver trio, a solid offensive line, and a tough defense. If they can get even average quarterback play, it’s not hard to imagine this team making some noise.
As for Davenport’s prediction, this would be the first CPOY Award for Murray and his third Pro Bowl selection. Murray made the Pro Bowl in both 2020 and 2021, but was never able to reach those heights again in the desert.
Murray hoping to revive career in Minnesota
Just a couple of seasons ago, Murray was considered one of the better quarterbacks in the league. The quarterback led the Cardinals to the playoffs and it looked like the team would be a problem for years to come.
Unfortunately for Murray and the Cardinals, the pairing just never panned out. In 2025, Murray got hurt and only played in five games. After that, the Cardinals had seen enough and decided to cut bait with the longtime starter. It’s been a quick fall from grace for the former star, but if anybody can get him back to his former self, it’s O’Connell.