Minnesota Vikings starting cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. has urged his agent to secure a contract extension before the season begins; however, those discussions seem to be stalled as the sixth-year corner enters a contract year with the team.
Originally reported by KSTP’s Darren Wolfson, Murphy requested his agent to negotiate a deal ahead of the season.
However, after the Vikings awarded Harrison Phillips an extension following their Week 1 victory over the New York Giants, it seems the team has paused all contract negotiations until next year.
On the September 12 episode of SKOR North’s “Mackey and Judd” podcast, Wolfson mentioned that he “has not heard much” regarding Murphy, indicating a potential shift in the Vikings’ cornerback lineup come next offseason.
Byron Murphy Jr. Hopes to Prove It, Stay in Minnesota.
It’s understandable that Murphy, who signed a two-year, $17.5 million contract with the Vikings in 2023, enters this season without a new deal.
Initially, the Vikings planned for Murphy to play mainly in the slot; however, due to issues with the supporting players on the outside, he was shifted to the boundary. He logged 593 snaps on the outside while also moving to the slot during nickel packages.
With the additions of Shaq Griffin and Stephon Gilmore, the Vikings will have a better opportunity to assess Murphy’s effectiveness as a slot cornerback, making this season a crucial test for the veteran.
During offseason workouts, Murphy expressed his desire to remain in Minnesota.
“I was present on the final day of the Vikings’ mandatory minicamp and had a great conversation with cornerback Byron Murphy Jr.,” Wolfson shared on the June 11 episode of “Mackey & Judd.” “I asked him, ‘Hey, you’re in a contract year?’ and he replied, ‘Yeah, I don’t want to go anywhere else.’ He was very sincere about it. He wants to be here for the rest of his career, which shows how much Byron Murphy enjoys being a Viking.
“He has instructed his agent to, ‘Hey, engage the Vikings, engage [Vikings executive vice president of football operations] Rob Brzezinski, and see if we can work out some kind of extension before the season starts.’”
The Vikings typically do not grant extensions during the season, which means Murphy will need to prove his value through his performance this year to secure his place with the team.
Vikings Poised to Remake Starting CB Core.
The Vikings’ misfortune at cornerback is well-documented; however, with this year’s starting trio of Gilmore, Griffin, and Murphy all facing expiring contracts, there’s a significant chance for a change in that position by 2025.
This potential shift is not viewed negatively as it was when Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, and Mackensie Alexander left during the 2020 offseason. Back then, the Vikings lacked cap space and opted to rebuild on the go with rookie players.
In contrast, the Vikings now have plenty of cap room, holding the sixth-most effective cap space at $65.9 million for next year’s free agency.
They could pursue a premier lockdown corner, such as San Francisco 49ers star Charvarius Ward, and also use a first-round draft pick on the position.
Mekhi Blackmon is expected to return from his season-ending Achilles injury, which will complete the starting trio.
Additionally, undrafted rookie Dwight McGlothern should continue to grow after making the 53-man roster this season, while Akayleb Evans has the opportunity to prove himself with two years left on his contract.
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