Now that the Super Bowl is over, all attention is focused on the offseason. With free agency approaching, the Minnesota Vikings are expecting some key players to go. The front office will have some difficult decisions as they determine who to bring back and who to let go.
The Vikings must make judgments on two major pending free agency defensive backs: safety Cam Bynum and cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. Both had excellent seasons, are due for raises, and their contracts expire on Monday.
Minnesota Vikings picking and choosing between defensive backs
The Minnesota Vikings have money to play with, but they also have a large number of pending free agents. Nonetheless, the secondary stands out as a position group in transition, with all six of the most essential players (Smith, Bynum, Murphy, Gilmore, Metellus, and Griffin) poised to enter free agency or retire.
So, what do general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and defensive coordinator Brian Flores plan to accomplish? According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Vikings are considering re-signing Cam Bynum, who was drafted in 2021 and is nearing the end of his rookie deal. The current communication between the front office and cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. is not as positive.
Several free agents — Byron Murphy II, Camryn Bynum, Cam Robinson, Aaron Jones — could get cushy deals elsewhere, but GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has shown adaptability in adding new talent. (A prime example is last season’s pass-rush duo of Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel.) In the secondary, the sense here is Murphy walks but Bynum could stay under a new deal.
Jeremy Fowler – ESPN
Fowler raises a valid point. We know that the Minnesota Vikings’ general manager isn’t afraid to let players depart if it means finding more cap-friendly choices. Last season was an excellent example of this. He let veterans such as Kirk Cousins and Danielle Hunter walk.
Then he replaced them with less established but less expensive options like Sam Darnold, Jonathan Greenard, and Andrew Van Ginkel, all of whom had strong seasons. We can now expect to see similar results at many other positions (including quarterback).
Why Cam Bynum over Byron Murphy Jr?
Now that some of these aged defensive backs want to be paid, the GM will choose which ones are deserving and which are not. Cam Bynum and Byron Murphy Jr. will both get paid this offseason, and it appears that the Minnesota Vikings are unwilling to spend too much money into their secondary.
I’d guess Bynum is the choice because he’ll be cheaper. Murphy is now expected to earn $22.1 million per year (4 years) coming offseason, according to Spotrac. Bynum will not be inexpensive, either. According to the same calculations, he is expected to earn $17.7 million per year for three years, making it far less hazardous.
Camryn Bynum played 1,056 snaps for the Minnesota Vikings this season, totaling 67 solo tackles and three interceptions. His play got him a 61.6 rating from Pro Football Focus. Meanwhile, Byron Murphy Jr. played 1,109 snaps, registering 72 tackles and six interceptions. He finished the season with a 73.4 PFF grade and was selected to the Pro Bowl.
If Fowler’s instincts are correct, saying goodbye to Murphy will not be easy. The cornerback, who joined Minnesota in the summer of 2023, had two productive seasons in purple. But that is simply the reality of the industry. Now it’s a waiting game to see what the Minnesota Vikings decide officially.
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