Byron Murphy Jr. is having an exceptional season at a crucial moment, as it’s the final year of his contract. The Minnesota Vikings have faced significant challenges in their cornerback group, relying on short-term veterans after the tragic death of rookie Khyree Jackson and the season-ending injury of second-year player Mekhi Blackmon.
Murphy has emerged as the only long-term prospect at cornerback, and he’s delivered impressive performances that will likely earn him a significant payday.
The former University of Washington standout has posted a career-best 74.8 PFF coverage grade, ranking 24th out of 213 qualifying cornerbacks. On Sunday, he intercepted his sixth pass of the season, leading all cornerbacks in that category.
He’s been a reliable presence, playing a career-high 93.2% of snaps so far this season, earning the trust of defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
Murphy’s versatility, playing both inside and outside, is one of his greatest assets. Standing at 5’11” and weighing 190 pounds, he doesn’t fit the traditional mold of an outside corner, though that’s where he’s played the majority of his career. In 2020, he spent more than 69% of his snaps in the slot, working alongside veterans Dre Kirkpatrick and Patrick Peterson. After their departures, he became the team’s top cornerback.
In the NFC West, where he regularly faced elite receivers like D.K. Metcalf and Cooper Kupp, Murphy often shadowed the top wideouts, moving with them in and out of the slot and across the field. His solid play earned him a two-year, $17.5 million contract from the Vikings, with the potential to reach $22.5 million. Minnesota likely got him at a lower price due to a back injury that limited his 2022 season.
Since joining the Vikings, Murphy has built on his success with the Cardinals, where he accumulated one forced fumble, nine tackles for loss, five interceptions, and 34 passes defended over four seasons. In just under two seasons with Minnesota, he’s added two forced fumbles, nine tackles for loss, nine interceptions, and 25 passes defended.
Aside from his stats, Murphy has been excellent in coverage, rarely getting beaten deep, with the exception of one 36-yard play. However, his 18.1% missed tackle rate is a concern, though he is rarely caught out of position.
This season, Murphy has played 37% of his snaps in the slot and 54.6% on the outside. With the additions of Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin, he has moved to the slot in certain nickel formations. However, due to Josh Metellus’ flexibility and Flores’ preference for Big Nickel packages (using three safeties), Murphy still spends more than half of his time on the outside. His adaptability is exactly what Flores looks for, as it allows the defense to maximize its talent.
Murphy’s two-year contract will expire after this season, and Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah should prioritize extending him. At just 27 next season, he is the Vikings’ most reliable cornerback under 30, and they’ve been seeking stability at the position for several seasons.
It’s hard to predict whether Murphy’s performance will continue to rise over the next two months, but even if it doesn’t, his value will still be manageable. His next contract could resemble that of Carlton Davis, who signed a three-year, $44.5 million deal ($14.8 million AAV), or possibly Deommodore Lenoir’s extension with the 49ers, which averages $17.9 million annually.
The Vikings could extend Murphy with three additional void years at $1.4 million each. Rob Brzezinski, the Vikings’ cap expert, is known for creatively managing the salary cap by pushing money into future void years.
My prediction for Murphy’s extension: A three-year, $51 million deal with $30 million guaranteed, plus two void years. This would result in a 2025 cap hit of approximately $9.1 million, a fair price for securing him through 2027, when he’ll be 29 years old and likely looking to test the market again.
It’s unlikely Murphy will command a contract as high as L’Jarius Sneed’s recent four-year, $76 million deal, or the $19 million per year extensions received by Jaylon Johnson and Tyson Campbell. However, Murphy is still young and could improve further. He has played a crucial role in the Vikings’ defense this season, and after betting on himself in his contract year, it appears his decision will pay off.
John Boyd covers the Vikings for Zone Coverage and the NFL for Bite-Size Sports. He also hosts Necessary Roughness, a weekly live NFL show on the Bite-Size Sports YouTube channel each Tuesday at 8pm CST during the season.
