All Things 2026 Minnesota Vikings Off-Season Thread

[Gophers1992]

I'll say once again, if KOC is the offensive genius he is purported to be (which I don't buy into), he should be able to make something of a guy with Murray's talent.

If he can't do that, why do we care about a QB who fits his very flawed system?

 

[GophersInIowa]

KOC likes to run longer developing plays. If they can get Murray to use his athleticism to avoid pressure while still keeping his eyes downfield, it could work. Easier said than done though as historically when he avoids pressure he is largely just looking to run at that point.

 

[upnorthkid]

Could be a lottery ticket or a dud, but it will make JJM address his issues, and events which humble us is how we learn.

As Lewis said in his article, Murray’s not coming here to watch, do JJM better prepare if he’s needed to relieve him due to injury or performance issues.

He was least favorite QB in that class, as he hadn’t played a lot in college and his build isn’t optimal - tall and too thin.

Exactly.

I chuckle when people mock KOC prowess’s as QB whisper: two SB winners under his tutelage in Stanford and Darnold (career backup QB at that point until hooking up with KOC) and Daniel Jones went from being cut in midseason to to resurrecting his career, not to mention winning games with assorted flunkies.

JJM is a miss so far, but no one bats 1000%. I wish I was half as good at my job as KOC is with developing QBs.

hanging out with Kyle Shanahan seems to do a lot of QBs a lot of good.
Daniel Jones is an interesting one as to if its KOC or not. Kind of similar to Darnold, played under a team who had no sense of how to manage a young QB and surrounding him with zero talent in the WR room. QBR is actually about the exact same as his last healthy year in NY. Add to it he finally is playing with talent with Taylor (averaging 104 ypg before he dropped off to 57.25ypg with Rivers, who Steichen made look pretty decent after years away and with no arm strength left)

think the short is, nothing is ever really as simple as someone is a "whisperer" and fixes QBs. Certain guys help QBs get better, but so much of it is system plus QB and them complementing each other to make a guy look like an MVP. Shit Goff looked meh his whole career until he ended up over in Detroit and is perennially in the MVP chatter. Brock Purdy is one the league's most efficient passers, as did Jimmy G while he was there. Jalen Hurts was awesome throwing the ball in 2022 and now has games he looks like he can't hit the broad side of a barn.

just need to marry what these guys do well with the right system. It's not like they're picking some scrubs from D3 and making them into Joe Montana by just telling them how to play better. Don't know why we need to make KOC into some mythical being when we see this all over the league with multiple QBs, coordinators, etc when you get the right guy with the right system.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

hanging out with Kyle Shanahan seems to do a lot of QBs a lot of good.
Daniel Jones is an interesting one as to if its KOC or not. Kind of similar to Darnold, played under a team who had no sense of how to manage a young QB and surrounding him with zero talent in the WR room. QBR is actually about the exact same as his last healthy year in NY. Add to it he finally is playing with talent with Taylor (averaging 104 ypg before he dropped off to 57.25ypg with Rivers, who Steichen made look pretty decent after years away and with no arm strength left)

think the short is, nothing is ever really as simple as someone is a "whisperer" and fixes QBs. Certain guys help QBs get better, but so much of it is system plus QB and them complementing each other to make a guy look like an MVP. Shit Goff looked meh his whole career until he ended up over in Detroit and is perennially in the MVP chatter. Brock Purdy is one the league's most efficient passers, as did Jimmy G while he was there. Jalen Hurts was awesome throwing the ball in 2022 and now has games he looks like he can't hit the broad side of a barn.

just need to marry what these guys do well with the right system. It's not like they're picking some scrubs from D3 and making them into Joe Montana by just telling them how to play better. Don't know why we need to make KOC into some mythical being when we see this all over the league with multiple QBs, coordinators, etc when you get the right guy with the right system.

I appreciate your post/thoughts.

Both Darnold and Jones have complimented KOC in how he taught them to study film/prep for defenses.
Why would they give him credit, it it wasn’t due/true?
KOC is also widely regarded in The League for his abilities with QBs

The above paragraph is enough for a novice, such as myself, to give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

KOC likes to run longer developing plays. If they can get Murray to use his athleticism to avoid pressure while still keeping his eyes downfield, it could work. Easier said than done though as historically when he avoids pressure he is largely just looking to run at that point.

From my previous post 688 -

“If that’s additional concepts, things that players do well, those are things we’re going to do,” O’Connell said. “That’s what building a system … is all about.”

With previous starter Sam Darnold, the Vikings used the spring and summer to get to know his preferences. McCarthy took first-team reps sparingly in the fall of 2024. The same type of vision could be in store here.

 

[Slim Tubby]

I can't remember what people were saying about Darnold when he showed up two years ago, but it couldn't have been, "I'll bet we're going 14-3 with this guy!"

When I first heard we had signed Darnold, I laughed out loud. I was wrong.

I'm going in with an open mind this time around but understand the concerns some people have about Murray.

 

[howeda7]

If KOC can't adjust his offense to Kyler better than he did to JJ, he will get fired. I think it's that simple. I think he waited way too long to adjust to JJ last year and when he finally did, it showed. Hopefully he learned from that.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

If KOC can't adjust his offense to Kyler better than he did to JJ, he will get fired. I think it's that simple. I think he waited way too long to adjust to JJ last year and when he finally did, it showed. Hopefully he learned from that.

Pitch perfect - just like Liam.

 

[Spaulding!No!]

After last years preseason wheelbarrow of horse sht from the vikes and the media who peddled that tripe I expect more of the same. The entire thing was much ado about nothing and only a few savvy individuals wondered why unsolicited ‘JJ Mac is great!’ Articles were dropping weekly. The entire media market became a bunch slobbering Paul Allen wannabees.

 

[Ope3]

After last years preseason wheelbarrow of horse sht from the vikes and the media who peddled that tripe I expect more of the same. The entire thing was much ado about nothing and only a few savvy individuals wondered why unsolicited ‘JJ Mac is great!’ Articles were dropping weekly. The entire media market became a bunch slobbering Paul Allen wannabees.

Turn off, tune out, drop in.

- Timmy O'Leary

 

[GopherGrit]

I think there's zero chance Kyler Murray ends up a Viking.

I would bet a lot of money on Derek Carr coming here to compete with JJ. The second option would be Cousins.

I was looking for an older post in this thread, and stumbled upon this gem.

 

[GopherGrit]

I have no idea what you referencing.

I have not made a single comment on Kyler Murray's prospects on joining the Vikings, good, bad or indifferent. Nor I have I cared or referenced any of his stats to the best of my knowledge.

You must be confusing me with someone else.

You're correct. I am conflating two different, but very similar, discussions that I was having in parallel with you and and NYC a couple weeks ago.

28th in Completion rate.

Yuck.

Aaron Rodgers Stats | undefined QB | SumerSports

Explore Aaron Rodgers's full player profile on SumerSports.

sumersports.com

You weren't able to provide relevant statistics to back up your temper tantrums about Rodgers. The Mackey tweet is a perfect example of the kinds of stats that would have been relevant to the discussion.


What the Mackey tweet does absolutely do is prove I was correct and NYC was wrong.

Any QB can throw short passes. An offense like KOC's can't be productive on only short passes.

Obviously I was talking about medium to long passes.

Thanks for proving I was correct that for those passes Murray has big issues.


Also corroborated by the Tweet posted by Ogie in the other QB thread.

 

[GopherGrit]

So I see now per Post # 678 you have come around to Skor North is worth reading...

Mackey made a great point, backed up with relevant stats, on his individual Twitter account. I may have to follow that account and read it more often.

That doesn't say anything about the whiny, grasping for attention, 7th most important Vikings talking heads, Purple Daily podcast.

 

[GopherGrit]

If KOC can't adjust his offense to Kyler better than he did to JJ, he will get fired. I think it's that simple. I think he waited way too long to adjust to JJ last year and when he finally did, it showed. Hopefully he learned from that.

For once, a correct take.

Unlike your wrong take about trading Addison and keeping Nailor. You'll probably be wrong about trading Greenard, too.

 

[GopherGrit]

I'll say once again, if KOC is the offensive genius he is purported to be (which I don't buy into), he should be able to make something of a guy with Murray's talent.

If he can't do that, why do we care about a QB who fits his very flawed system?

KOC likes to run longer developing plays. If they can get Murray to use his athleticism to avoid pressure while still keeping his eyes downfield, it could work. Easier said than done though as historically when he avoids pressure he is largely just looking to run at that point.

As I think has already been discussed, the key to McVay/KOC passing scheme is crossing routes and throws over the middle.

You can't make great throws over the middle if you can't stay in the pocket. And importantly, you have to be able to see over the linemen!

How do you do that as a short guy?? Guess we'll see how it works out. But to me it means guys like McCarthy and probably Murray are not ideal candidates for that scheme.

 

[GopherGrit]

To be fair and honest, as you can easily find in some older posts ... I thought it would be Cousins all day.

Kyler Murray is here because he was able/willing to sign a one year deal for the league vet minimum.

Getting a former #1 overall pick for that ..... makes owners, GM's, and coaches cream their pants, automatically.


That's the long, short, left, right, and center of it. NOT because he was purely the best football choice.

We'll see how it plays out.

 

[Ope3]

Mackey made a great point, backed up with relevant stats, on his individual Twitter account. I may have to follow that account and read it more often.

That doesn't say anything about the whiny, grasping for attention, 7th most important Vikings talking heads, Purple Daily podcast.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

You're correct. I am conflating two different, but very similar, discussions that I was having in parallel with you and and NYC a couple weeks ago.

You weren't able to provide relevant statistics to back up your temper tantrums about Rodgers. The Mackey tweet is a perfect example of the kinds of stats that would have been relevant to the discussion.


What the Mackey tweet does absolutely do is prove I was correct and NYC was wrong.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

To be fair and honest, as you can easily find in some older posts ... I thought it would be Cousins all day.

Kyler Murray is here because he was able/willing to sign a one year deal for the league vet minimum.

No Sherlock and people who actually understand the NFL , knew that from the jump and weren’t surprised he was going to be available for the vet minimum.

It’s almost like there was a party and you weren’t invited again

Getting a former #1 overall pick for that ..... makes owners, GM's, and coaches cream their pants, automatically.


That's the long, short, left, right, and center of it. NOT because he was purely the best football choice.

We'll see how it plays out.

 

[jamiche]

I have no idea how this is going to play out in term of wins and losses. Anybody who says that they do is a little goofy in the head.

What I can say with confidence is that the Vikings historical ability to keep things interesting exceeds their ability to win football games, especially when it matters.

Given the rate of injuries in the NFL, if I were McCarthy's agent, girlfriend, parents and friends, I'd recommend that he prepare diligently for the season. I wouldn't be shocked if we see articles after a four game McCarthy led win streak describing a newly "matured" QB who has put alter ego #9 back in the sock drawer where it belongs and leaves the griddy in the end zone thing to his best pal, Justin Jefferson.

It's a crazy league with a lazy media that's mostly beholden to the teams. KOC as "QB whisperer"... etc.etc.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

I have no idea how this is going to play out in term of wins and losses. Anybody who says that they do is a little goofy in the head.

What I can say with confidence is that the Vikings historical ability to keep things interesting exceeds their ability to win football games, especially when it matters.

Given the rate of injuries in the NFL, if I were McCarthy's agent, girlfriend, parents and friends, I'd recommend that he prepare diligently for the season. I wouldn't be shocked if we see articles after a four game McCarthy led win streak describing a newly "matured" QB who has put alter ego #9 back in the sock drawer where it belongs and leaves the griddy in the end zone thing to his best pal, Justin Jefferson.

It's a crazy league with a lazy media that's mostly beholden to the teams. KOC as "QB whisperer"... etc.etc.

Good post

 

[GopherGrit]

I have no idea how this is going to play out in term of wins and losses. Anybody who says that they do is a little goofy in the head.

What I can say with confidence is that the Vikings historical ability to keep things interesting exceeds their ability to win football games, especially when it matters.

Given the rate of injuries in the NFL, if I were McCarthy's agent, girlfriend, parents and friends, I'd recommend that he prepare diligently for the season. I wouldn't be shocked if we see articles after a four game McCarthy led win streak describing a newly "matured" QB who has put alter ego #9 back in the sock drawer where it belongs and leaves the griddy in the end zone thing to his best pal, Justin Jefferson.

It's a crazy league with a lazy media that's mostly beholden to the teams. KOC as "QB whisperer"... etc.etc.

Lot of words to say that Murray might get hurt? Yeah, he might.

 

[jamiche]

Lot of words to say that Murray might get hurt? Yeah, he might.

He's going to get hurt. 5'10" QB's don't play 17 games. For better or worse, JJ might play more games than he did last year.

 

[Ogie Ogilthorpe]

He's going to get hurt. 5'10" QB's don't play 17 games. For better or worse, JJ might play more games than he did last year.

For the record, Murray avoids big, heavy hits probably better than about any QB I've ever seen. As a 1st round draft pick in the MLB draft, his sliding instincts are abundantly clear, he's elite at that.

He also knows when to bail on a play. No kidding, on more than one occasion I have seen him on the perimeter behind the LOS, surrounded by at least 2 defenders, and just sit on the ground. I shit you not, damndest thing you've ever seen. Brilliant really, I mean think about it; another yard or two is worth being crunched by a couple defenders?

 

[forever a gopher]

For the record, Murray avoids big, heavy hits probably better than about any QB I've ever seen. As a 1st round draft pick in the MLB draft, his sliding instincts are abundantly clear, he's elite at that.

He also knows when to bail on a play. No kidding, on more than one occasion I have seen him on the perimeter behind the LOS, surrounded by at least 2 defenders, and just sit on the ground. I shit you not, damndest thing you've ever seen. Brilliant really, I mean think about it; another yard or two is worth being crunched by a couple defenders?

Over the past 5 years, he’s started 55 of a possible 82 games, and started all the games in a season once in those 5 years. He’s going to get hurt.

He’s also been over .500 once in his career, at 9-5, but who’s counting.

 

[kg21]

The Vikings won 9 games last year with brutal qb play.

I don't think there is a great team in our division.

All can be good and not great.

Let's play!

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Over the past 5 years, he’s started 55 of a possible 82 games, and started all the games in a season once in those 5 years. He’s going to get hurt.

He’s also been over .500 once in his career, at 9-5, but who’s counting.

U apparently

 

[Ogie Ogilthorpe]

Over the past 5 years, he’s started 55 of a possible 82 games, and started all the games in a season once in those 5 years. He’s going to get hurt.

He’s also been over .500 once in his career, at 9-5, but who’s counting.

Yes, he's had injuries, there's no doubt about that. I'm saying he's not going to get injured (or really hasn't to this point) because he's a small guy. That's what I was responding to.

I'm hoping for the best with Murray (it's the only way I know how to be, guilty), but it's important to remember what kind of player he's been and that another team is paying him over $35M to fuck off and go away; and that's with a new HC in Mike LaFleur who knows a little bit about coaching offense himself.

 

[Slim Tubby]

Over the past 5 years, he’s started 55 of a possible 82 games, and started all the games in a season once in those 5 years. He’s going to get hurt.

He’s also been over .500 once in his career, at 9-5, but who’s counting.

What would you have done at QB this offseason if you were the Vikings GM? Not being sarcastic at all...just curious what direction you would've chosen.

 

[coolhandgopher]

Over the past 5 years, he’s started 55 of a possible 82 games, and started all the games in a season once in those 5 years. He’s going to get hurt.

He’s also been over .500 once in his career, at 9-5, but who’s counting.

Over that 5 year period, only the following quarterbacks have started more than 10 games each season: Josh Allen, Jared Goff, Pat Mahomes (ends this season), Jalen Hurts, Baker Mayfield, and Trevor Lawrence (the last two sneaking in with 10 games in one of those seasons). Every team should have a solid Plan B at quarterback, because all QB's are at high risk for injury.

In Murray's case, this past year's starting numbers were skewed, if I remember correctly, due to his coach choosing to start the journeyman Jacoby Brissett over a healthy Murray for a number of games, because of a clash of a power struggle between the two.

Look, Murray could flame out with the Vikings, but if he's not motivated coming into this season, he never will be, For the talent, the age, the cost, and the alternate options available, this seems as much of a no-brainer move as there ever has been. And while all of the negative press about Murray's attitude and commitment to the craft could be true, it would also be wise to consider that he's been playing in an organization that's been so dysfunctional throughout its existence, if they played in New York they would make the Jets look stalwart by comparison. Consider that someone pretty high up the chain with the Cardinals must have leaked to the press the language on the contract re: his video game playing, and you're looking at a fish head laying in the sun for three days organization that Murray is moving on from.

If nothing else, Murray provides hope of lightning in a bottle, which would not be the case with Derek Carr, Joe Flacco, Geno Smith, or a Kirk Cousins re-boot. There's been quite a run of second or third team QB's reviving their careers lately-Darnold, Mayfield, G. Smith, Goff, Malik Willis and Mac Jones (those last two being maybes). Only Goff had accomplished as much on the field as Murray prior to shuffling over from their first franchise, and while a trajectory of what arrived for Darnold in Seattle may seem impossible, it's a hell of a lot better odds than with the other cast of characters who were available this off-season.