This offseason, the Minnesota Vikings signed veteran quarterback Kyler Murray as a possible solution for their issues following J.J. McCarthy’s struggles at the position.
On Tuesday, Murray was officially named the team’s starting quarterback over McCarthy. That was determined through a fierce QB competition at training camp over the past several weeks.
Murray spoke with the media after learning he was the team’s QB1, providing his reaction to the news he’d won the starting job.
“I didn’t expect to be handed the job or anything like that. I just expected to come here and compete. I’m very appreciative of how it was handled,” Murray told reporters, per Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling.
He joined the Vikings after spending seven seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. While playing there, the former Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 pick earned NFL Rookie of the Year and was a two-time Pro Bowl quarterback.
Murray racked up 20,460 passing yards with the Cardinals and threw for 121 touchdowns with 60 interceptions. However, he only guided the team to the postseason once in his seven seasons there.
Many believe he could experience an MVP-contending season as QB1 for the Vikings. He’ll have several weapons to throw to on the field, including Pro Bowler Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings, and tight end T.J. Hockenson.
McCarthy threw for 1,632 passing yards and 11 touchdowns in his 10 games last season. Murray has thrown for over 3,000 yards in four of his seven previous seasons, and nearly threw for 4,000 yards in several of those seasons.
With that comes the expectation that he’ll be the answer to the team’s quarterback woes, and hopefully be able to ignite Jefferson and the other receivers to much-improved performances in their coming season.
Last season, the Vikings finished at 9-8 in the competitive NFC North. They were tied with the Detroit Lions and neither team reached the NFL Playoffs, while the Chicago Bears won the division and the Green Bay Packers also earned a spot in the Wild Card Round.
The Vikings signed Murray to a one-year contract for the veteran’s minimum salary of $1.3 million, giving them the leeway to change their QB plans and potentially look to trades, free agency, or the draft should the team once again experience a disappointing season.
Minnesota gets its preseason started on Saturday, Aug. 15, when they take on the New York Giants on the road. They’ll open their regular season on Sunday, Sept. 13, when they host Jordan Love and the Packers.
For more about the Minnesota Vikings and the NFL, head over to Newsweek Sports.