Vikings' Kyler Murray gets blunt reminder of what's at stake this season

Even though there's a lot of excitement and hope around Minnesota Vikings QB Kyler Murray getting the start and possibly taking this franchise far this season, it's also easily a make-or-break season for Murray.

He's on a one-year deal, and if things don't go well, he'll probably be looking for another franchise. If things do go well, of course, the Vikings may want to lock him in and not make the mistake they did by letting Sam Darnold head to Seattle.

Now, Murray is being dubbed as one of the players with the most pressure going into the new season.

Kyler Murray is facing plenty of pressure this season

In a feature released on Thursday, Bill Barnwell of ESPN lays out the NFL players who have big years this season. 

"Even within this group, though, there are a few players who could really see their future diverge into one of two dramatically different paths solely based on what they do over the next 17 games," he notes.

Murray is on this tally. It's not a dismal projection, really, but it's just the vibe that it could go either way.

"If it works out, Murray should have a career year throwing to one of the league's best sets of receivers," he states in the piece. "He'll prove he can operate in another style of offense, opening more doors for him around the NFL."

He adds, "And after the Vikings let Sam Darnold walk out the door, it's difficult to imagine that they wouldn't pay a premium to keep their new starter around for years, a price that will be even richer given the leverage Murray holds with his no-tag clause."

But, what if it goes the other way?

"If Murray can't stay healthy or isn't a great fit in the offense, well, he's probably looking at his last guaranteed starting role," he writes.

Of course, even if Murray doesn't thrive with the Vikings, that doesn't mean his NFL career is done. But, his starting days may be numbered. It's just another piece of motivation for Murray this season.