Surprisingly, the Performance of a Vikings Defender Has Inspired Pro Bowl Buzz
In the 2024 offseason, the Minnesota Vikings lost two annual Pro Bowl candidates when Kirk Cousins and Danielle Hunter ‒ two four-time Pro Bowlers ‒ left in free agency. That talent drain had to be compensated by solid new signings and old teammates of the departed players stepping up.
Surprisingly, the Performance of a Vikings Defender Has Inspired Pro Bowl Buzz
Quarterback Sam Darnold has exceeded all expectations in his career revival season, while Hunter was replaced by Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard, who have both been excellent in Brian Flores’ defense.
When the first annual Pro Bowl votings surfaced, Vikings fans saw Van Ginkel as the NFC’s top vote-getter among outside linebackers and Justin Jefferson, as usual, leading the wideouts. Long snapper Andrew DePaola could be on his way to his third Pro Bowl, as he is leading his position.
But one Viking wasn’t expected to be that high on the list. Byron Murphy Jr. has gotten the most votes among cornerbacks in the NFC.
Murphy signed with the Vikings in the 2023 offseason to become the team’s new top cornerback. He played in 14 games last season, and his absence was painful for Minnesota’s defense. This year, he has played in all 12 contests and has already collected five interceptions, tied for the lead among cornerbacks in the NFL.
The Pro Bowl vote is, to some extent, a popularity contest, but having decent statistics also helps a player’s case. The common NFL fan enters the voting page, sees his five picks, and nominates him for one of the roster spots.
According to Pro Football Focus, Murphy has significantly raised his level of play in the 2024 season. After recording a 58.0 grade (87th of 127 cornerbacks) last season, he has been given a grade of 72.9, ranking him 17th of 113 CBs.
Murphy signed a two-year contract in 2023, which means he is entering the final months of his Vikings career unless he and the organization can agree on a new deal. The good news is that there’s no reason why the Vikings should be willing to let their top cover player enter free agency, considering that the only CBs under contract beyond this season are Mekhi Blackmon and Dwight McGlothern.
His old contract is worth $17.5 million. He has earned a raise with his play this year but has not done enough to break the bank, so the most likely outcome should be a contract with an annual pay in the neighborhood of $12-$16 million.
In June, Murphy said in an interview with KSTP’s Darren Wolfson regarding a potential extension: “I don’t think I’m going anywhere. That’s my mindset. I want to stay; I love this place. Since I’ve been here since day one, I have fallen in love. I want to go nowhere. I want to stay here for the rest of my career. I love these guys in the locker room and the coaching — everything about this place is great. I’m going to work my ass off to stay here.”
The defender will turn 27 during the upcoming playoffs. He has played in 82 career games, recording 13 interceptions and 344 tackles. Murphy has not gotten as much praise as the newcomers Van Ginkel, Greenard, or Blake Cashman, but his play on the field has been just as important.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and PFF helped with this article.
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Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt