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The Minnesota Vikings will have inexpensive play from the QB position this upcoming 2026 NFL season. However, the complicating factor will be whether Kyler Murray performs at an All-Pro level under head coach Kevin O’Connell.

Murray is on a one-year contract after the Arizona Cardinals decided to cut ties with him this offseason. As a result, regardless of who wins the QB competition between Murray, J.J. McCarthy, and Carson Wentz, it won’t cost the Vikings much.

Nonetheless, many expect Murray to win the job, and if he lives up to his potential as a former No. 1 pick, the question is whether the Vikings can afford to keep him long-term. The Minnesota Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling shared his thoughts on this potential scenario.

“I think [the next contract] will depend on the year he has,” Goessling said on the April 28 edition of “StribSports Daily Delivery.” “It will depend on the market that exists for him. If he plays well, there will be a market, but will people think it’s sustainable?”

Moreover, Goessling could see the Vikings going down the same path as the Seattle Seahawks did with Sam Darnold, who signed a three-year, $100.5 million contract in 2025. Still, he does mention a number that might be too rich for Minnesota.

“If it’s [the Darnold deal] for Kyler Murray, I think that is plausible,“ Goessling added. “If you’re getting into those max-type $50 million per year contracts while also paying Justin Jefferson, I just can’t see that.”

Minnesota Can’t Afford Max-Type Contract With Kyler Murray

Furthermore, Goessling went into more detail on why he can’t see Minnesota paying $50 million per year for Murray, given that they’re already paying Justin Jefferson.

“What we’ve seen is a lot of teams come to that crossroads, and it’s always about whether you pay the quarterback or the receiver,“ Goessling added. “Generally, the teams that have done this have paid the quarterback. In this particular case, you’ve already paid the receiver, so I don’t quite know what that would look like.

“I would think it would have to be something more of a modest deal to work, rather than going in with two players occupying $100 million per year on the cap. I can’t imagine it looking like that. They’ll get creative with structures, but I think you’d have to be a little more restrained on the quarterback level because of what you’re paying Jefferson.“

Lincoln Riley Doesn’t Hold Back on Vikings’ Kyler Murray

All the talk of Murray’s next contract will come down to how he performs, but his former college head coach, Lincoln Riley, expects big things from his former QB now that he’s with the Vikings.

“Watch out for Kyler Murray in Minnesota,“ Riley said on an April 17 appearance on “The Jim Rome Show.” “I love, love the pairing of him with Kevin O’Connell. I think Kevin’s fabulous. And watch out with those two together. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Moreover, Riley went into further detail about why he believes Murray will benefit from having O’Connell as his head coach.

“KOC is a good enough coach, “ Riley added. “He will figure out what is best for the skill sets he has. I know he is excited about Kyler Murray and his skill set. I know Murray is equally excited to join that type of organization, a championship-level organization from top to bottom that is run the right way.”