Generally speaking, former NFLer Ryan Fitzpatrick expects big things from new Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray — but he doesn’t think the prosperity will last.
Murray is tentatively expected to win the Vikings’ QB1 job this summer, and according to Fitzpatrick, he’ll play well in 2026 and get stale thereafter.
Fitzpatrick on Murray
Fitzpatrick delivered his Murray-themed takes on The Rich Eisen Show, stating, “I think his best year with Minnesota will be his first year, and if they keep him after that, it’s going to trail off because some of the issues that came up in Arizona are going to be the same issues that follow him. I don’t know that it’s a maturity issue.”
“I just think, with Kyler Murray, what are his strengths? All the things that you can measure, those are the things that he’s always been unbelievable at. I think it’s just been some of the intangibles where he has struggled, fitting into a locker room and being able to elevate a team to the next level.”
Seeing whether Murray plays well and maintains the pace is well worth it for the Vikings, who signed Murray for $1.3 million in March. “So I just think in Year 1, you’re not going to have to worry about those things because they’ll take care of themselves. It’s easy in Year 1 because everything is new. As you go on in the same spot for multiple years, those things become much more important,” Fitzpatrick, who started 147 games in the NFL, continued.
“That’s what I’m saying as to why I think this year is going to be great, but it’s going to be a one-year experiment that starts out great and tails off from there.”
Tailing Off in 2027 Is a 2027 Problem and Worth the Gamble
Listen, if Murray is planning on cooking with the 2026 Vikings, but Fitzpatrick thinks the risk is that he might fall off a year later, that’s a crapshoot a team must be willing to take. For example, Sam Darnold thrived for the Vikings in 16 games. Then, he collapsed in his 17th and 18th starts, ruining the 2024 campaign. Minnesota’s response? Dump Darnold and embark on the J.J. McCarthy era — which led the Vikings to the here and now, signing Murray to perhaps rectify their quarterback conundrum.
Meanwhile, Darnold won a Super Bowl in Seattle.
So, the Vikings owe it to themselves to audition Murray in 2026, and if he’s productive, they’ll have a “cross that bridge when they get their problem” regarding Fitzpatrick’s prediction.
Injuries to Monitor, Too The larger concerns about Murray are his size and subsequent injury history. He’s only about 5’10” — depending on the measurer — and misses more games than most franchise quarterbacks. Through seven seasons, Murray has missed 26% of all eligible games, meaning he’s due to miss 3-4 per year.
While Fitzpatrick may fear a sophomore slump for Murray in the Twin Cities, Vikings fans should spend most of their time contemplating Murray’s durability when it comes to his weaknesses. He’s played full seasons thrice in his career — 2019, 2020, and 2024 — and then that’s it.
Optimists will say he’s due for a complete season sans injuries. Fingers crossed.
Supreme Vikings QB Depth This Time Around
Minnesota is not messing around at quarterback this time. In 2023, the season was ruined when Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles. Backup quarterback Nick Mullens was hurt at the time, too, so the Vikings fired off an inexpensive trade for Joshua Dobbs, while experimenting with rookie Jaren Hall. The club ultimately flamed out because there was no QB1 stability and missed the postseason.
In 2025, McCarthy could not stay healthy, and Carson Wentz’s shoulder was fried by Halloween. Minnesota turned to Max Brosmer, which quickly revealed a disaster. Brosmer was not ready for the NFL, and in fact, posted more bloopers than completed passes. Now, the purple team has quarterback depth to prevent this madness. Between Murray, McCarthy, and Wentz, it’s next to impossible that all three would be lost for the season and ruin another shot at the playoffs.
The Vikings have quarterback depth and two passers specifically, Murray and McCarthy, with something to prove.
Quarterback struggles in 2027 should be left for 2027. If Murray succeeds in 2026, he has a chance to sign a big contract in Minnesota and remain the quarterback for the next-decade-plus. His age, 28, allows for that upside.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
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