'Absolute coup': ESPN analyst's take on Vikings' Kyler Murray signing is right on the money

The Minnesota Vikings have to feel like they got a steal by signing veteran quarterback Kyler Murray.

Murray, who is about to enter his eighth season in the NFL, certainly found himself at a low point toward the end of his time with the Arizona Cardinals. They released him outright a few weeks ago, but because of the structure of his contract, he's going to get paid $36.8 million by the Cardinals to not play in Arizona in 2026. That much was still guaranteed on his contract, 

That allowed him to pick a new team based on fit rather than money, and he found that fit in Minnesota. For the Vikings, it allowed them to bring in a reclamation project veteran with a ton of upside to see if "quarterback whisperer" Kevin O'Connell can revive his career.

Making things even sweeter for the Vikings is that they only had to pay Murray the vet-minimum $1.3 million due to the amount of money he's still owed from Arizona.

It's a massive win-win for both parties, but ESPN's Seth Walder believes the Vikings basically got away with highway robbery.

"The Vikings pulled off an absolute coup at the game's most important position," he wrote in a piece that gave Minnesota an A-grade for the signing of Murray.

Kyler Murray could help the Minnesota Vikings be a playoff team 

The kicker for Minnesota is that Murray may not just be a reclamation project for O'Connell and the Vikings. 

He's a former No. 1 overall pick, the 2019 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, a two-time Pro Bowler, and the 2018 Heisman Trophy Winner. He still has elite upside at just 28 years old, and O'Connell (arguably the person responsible for Sam Darnold's career turnaround) can win games with J.J. McCarthy and Max Brosmer at quarterback; he can absolutely win with Murray leading the offense.

"This is not just about rehabbing Murray's image and shipping him off a year from now for some draft picks. If it breaks right, Murray can help the Vikings be a playoff threat now," Walder wrote.

Getting a potential playoff-level quarterback for $1.3 million? Walder is right...the Vikings absolutely pulled off a coup in free agency.