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The Minnesota Vikings missed the playoffs last year in large part because of their ineffective quarterback play. They are expecting Kyler Murray to elevate their passing attack back into a respectable operation.
Unfortunately, the lack of other major free agent moves and a draft class that left people scratching their heads initially when Caleb Banks' name was called has left some critics skeptical. Sure, the Vikings finished the 2025 season 9-8, but they entered December 4-8 with question marks across the roster.
Count Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport as one of those skeptics.
He has Minnesota ranked 23rd in his latest Power Rankings, but says Murray's effectiveness could not only improve the Vikings but also make them a problem for the rest of the NFC.
"But whether or not the Vikings climb out of the NFC North basement in 2026 is going to come down to how that one major free-agent addition pans out. The Vikings will no doubt talk up a quarterback competition this summer, but it will be an upset if Kyler Murray isn't the starter in Week 1 over J.J. McCarthy. The question then becomes whether Kevin O'Connell can highlight Murray's strengths and get the 2019 first overall pick playing like the signal-caller who made two Pro Bowls earlier in his career. If O'Connell can do that, this team could be dangerous."
Murray himself has questions to answer. He has missed 30 games the last five seasons, and speculation about a potential "soft-benching" lingered last year after Murray reportedly suffered a foot injury.
But if he can get back to his Pro Bowl form from 2021, the Vikings could be once again battling for the NFC North crown.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Vikings not in a good spot in Bleacher Report's power rankings
Continue reading...
Unfortunately, the lack of other major free agent moves and a draft class that left people scratching their heads initially when Caleb Banks' name was called has left some critics skeptical. Sure, the Vikings finished the 2025 season 9-8, but they entered December 4-8 with question marks across the roster.
Count Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport as one of those skeptics.
He has Minnesota ranked 23rd in his latest Power Rankings, but says Murray's effectiveness could not only improve the Vikings but also make them a problem for the rest of the NFC.
"But whether or not the Vikings climb out of the NFC North basement in 2026 is going to come down to how that one major free-agent addition pans out. The Vikings will no doubt talk up a quarterback competition this summer, but it will be an upset if Kyler Murray isn't the starter in Week 1 over J.J. McCarthy. The question then becomes whether Kevin O'Connell can highlight Murray's strengths and get the 2019 first overall pick playing like the signal-caller who made two Pro Bowls earlier in his career. If O'Connell can do that, this team could be dangerous."
Murray himself has questions to answer. He has missed 30 games the last five seasons, and speculation about a potential "soft-benching" lingered last year after Murray reportedly suffered a foot injury.
But if he can get back to his Pro Bowl form from 2021, the Vikings could be once again battling for the NFC North crown.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Vikings not in a good spot in Bleacher Report's power rankings
Continue reading...
