The Minnesota Vikings have a small army of veteran, defensive starters currently in contract years.
Defensive tackles Jerry Tillery and Jonathan Bullard, and cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore, Shaq Griffin and Byron Murphy Jr. are pending free agents, meaning Minnesota could have some competition if it wants to keep one of the NFL’s best defenses together in 2025.
One player who would generate considerable outside interest is Murphy, a playmaker who can switch seamlessly between the boundary and slot, and now has an interception in three consecutive games.
The Bleacher Report scouting department believes Murphy will be on the move this offseason, predicting Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers will be a potential suitor in free agency. Here was the site’s take:
“The Steelers signed Donte Jackson this offseason and he’s been a strong addition to the defense. The 29-year-old is putting together the best campaign of his career. Him overperforming his one-year contract is nice, but it means that he could be looking for more money next season and the Steelers might want to avoid handing a cornerback who will turn 30 a ton of money in free agency. That money might be better spent on someone like Byron Murphy. The 27-year-old is thriving under Brian Flores in Minnesota. Of course, Flores was most recently with the Steelers before taking over as the defensive coordinator in Minnesota. He would show up to Pittsburgh and give them two corners who can press and play in an aggressive scheme.”
Murphy signed a two-year, $17.5 million contract with Minnesota in 2023 and has been a solid starter for the Vikings. There was mutual interest in getting an extension done this past offseason, but talks reportedly stalled out in September.
What that means for Murphy’s future with the team is debatable. He has three void years remaining on his current contract, which could make an extension worthwhile for the Vikings from a salary cap standpoint. The cap should have nothing to do with them retaining Murphy, though, as he’s unlikely to fetch top-of-the-market cornerback money in free agency, and the team is projected to have upwards of $75 million in cap space in 2025.
It’s easy to see the allure of a team like Pittsburgh. Mike Tomlin is a draw, and the Steelers are always relevant in the AFC playoff picture. Playing in Tomlin’s defense tends to be a good career move, especially for a guy like Murphy, who’s still in his prime but entering the second half of his career.
The Kansas City Chiefs have also been named as a suitor, so there figures to be real competition for Murphy’s services this offseason. The Vikings will likely try to keep him around, but what looked like a multi-year extension worth around $10 million per season appears to be getting more expensive with each passing week.
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