Signs Pointing to Vikings Re-Signing CB Byron Murphy, Jr.
Context clues and a little deduction suggests Vikings will retain key defender
Free agency is still six days away but one could use a couple of context clues and the art of deduction to solve one of the Vikings’ biggest offseason questions.
That question swirled around starting cornerback Byron Murphy, Jr. and starting safety Cam Bynum. Both are key cogs on the defense but both will be spendy to re-sign. Prevailing wisdom suggests the Vikings could bring back one of them but it’s unlikely they can afford to retain both.
So which one would it be?
Indications at the moment, and they are strong indications, are that Murphy, Jr. will be the one who returns.
Here are three reasons to think so.
Bryon Murphy Jr.’s Instagram Account
I am not one to peruse professional athletes’ social media accounts, but many others do this routinely and tend to share what they see. Earlier this week, Vikings fans and media members who cover the team noted that Murphy, Jr. had posted a video to his reel/story that featured himself in player intros and highlights. This could be construed as a goodbye message, but that would seem to be a stretch. It’s more likely this is foreshadowing of an announcement that he’ll be returning to the Purple.
Vikings Re-Signed S Theo Jackson on Thursday
It’s being widely reported - I first read it from Star Tribune beat writer Ben Goessling - that the Vikings have re-signed Theo Jackson to a three-year, $12.615 million contract. Jackson is considered to be a high-ceiling prospect in the Vikings’ system and has garnered praise from coaches, teammates and those who cover the team.
This type of commitment to Jackson is not marginal. It’s suggestive that he is about to assume a more significant role, perhaps even that of a starter. If that is the case, there is room for only one other starter - either Bynum or Harrison Smith.
Harrison Smith is Expected to Return
Speaking of Smith, there has been no official word from the Vikings or Smith about the veteran safety’s intentions. All we can do here is speculate and try to read the tea leaves.
If you are in and around the Vikings social media space enough, though, you can tell who the legitimate information gatherers are. And the ones who I tend to trust the most are not being bashful about their guesses as to Smith’s next move - they think he’s coming back for one more run.
Putting together these three clues, particularly No. 2 with Jackson returning and how that blends with the notion that it’s likely either Bynum or Murphy, Jr. who return and not both, would naturally lead one to suspect there is good news coming about Murphy, Jr. and the Vikings reaching agreement to keep the cornerback in the fold.
It’ll be tough to see Bynum leave. He was developed by the Vikings and became a key cog on the defense. He was a tremendous locker room influence. And he was a fan favorite because of his creativity in helping design celebratory dances when the defense would create a turnover.
But this would be a prudent move for the Vikings. Cornerback is a more premium position in today’s NFL and the Vikings have quality depth at safety. This means they are better-equipped to deal with Bynum’s departure than they are to try and replace Murphy, Jr.