- The Minnesota Vikings are currently facing the challenge of having several veteran defensive starters entering free agency. Defensive tackles Jerry Tillery and Jonathan Bullard, along with cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore, Shaq Griffin, and Byron Murphy Jr., are all in the final year of their contracts
Meanwhile, the Steelers acquired Donte Jackson this offseason, and he’s been a standout addition to their defense. At 29, he’s having a career-best season, but since he’s outplaying his one-year contract, he may seek a higher salary next year. The Steelers, however, might be cautious about committing big money to a cornerback approaching 30 and could prioritize a younger option like Byron Murphy instead. The 27-year-old Murphy is flourishing under Brian Flores in Minnesota. Given Flores’ past with the Steelers, there’s a possibility he could attract Murphy to Pittsburgh, where he would fit well into their aggressive defensive scheme.
Murphy, who joined the Vikings on a two-year, $17.5 million deal in 2023, has been a reliable starter. Although both sides were interested in extending his contract last offseason, negotiations reportedly stalled in September. His current deal includes three void years, so an extension might be financially advantageous for the Vikings. However, given their projected cap space of over $75 million in 2025, salary cap constraints are unlikely to be a barrier to keeping him. Murphy probably won’t command top-tier cornerback money in free agency.
Nonetheless, the appeal of playing for a team like Pittsburgh is clear—Mike Tomlin’s leadership and the Steelers’ consistent presence in the AFC playoff race are strong draws. Murphy, still in his prime but nearing the latter half of his career, could benefit from a stint under Tomlin’s defensive system. Additionally, the Kansas City Chiefs have reportedly shown interest, so the competition for Murphy is expected to be fierce. While the Vikings will likely attempt to re-sign him, what once seemed like a multi-year deal worth about $10 million per season is becoming more costly as Murphy continues to perform at a high level.
