ESPN Evaluates Kyler Murray’s Signing with Vikings

Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic explored a pertinent question Monday morning: “Within the larger framework of their team-building model,” what has free agency revealed so far about the NFL’s 32 clubs?

Which teams are ready to win now? Who is embracing a rebuild? And, who sits somewhere in between?

Rodrigue noted that as it stands, free agency has set the table for many teams’ draft boards, but that rosters could change again before the annual event (April 23-25) and shift a team forward or backward in its timeline. With that consideration, she grouped the league into “buckets” to show where teams are at in this phase of their efforts. There are seven tiers: 1) win-now; 2) must-win; confident and playoff-likely but with stakes; 3) success-builder; 4) neutral-positive; 5) neutral; 6) sprint-rebuild; and, alas, 7) rebuild.

There’s no reason to beat around the bush now. Rodrigue touted the Vikings as “neutral,” defined as …

These teams may have executed a solid free agency plan but might have glaring questions at quarterback (including injuries) or feature an average to below-average/bridge quarterback. Or, they may have a great quarterback on a rookie deal — whose presence is outweighed by significant roster questions in every phase.

Specific to Minnesota, Rodrigue wrote the following:

I want so badly to believe in this team’s potential, especially when thinking about new quarterback Kyler Murray’s ceiling and how he throws the football. Minnesota had to work some cap gymnastics this offseason and didn’t previously inspire confidence at quarterback, so the Murray addition at minimum cost is a plus before he ever steps on the field.

For what it’s worth, other teams ranked by Rodrigue in the same plane as the Purple are Atlanta, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and Washington. As for divisional foes, Rodrigue placed Detroit and Green Bay in the “neutral-positive” category and reigning NFC North champ Chicago in the “success-builder” phase.

Check out Rodrigue’s full write-up here.