Kyler Murray trade talk grows as Vikings stay unbeaten despite his struggles

Why Kyler Murray is trending

Kyler Murray is trending because the quarterback who's supposed to be running an undefeated team has been one of its biggest problems, and a new report has the Minnesota Vikings looking at a trade for Jalen Hurts to replace him. Through his first four games, Murray has thrown for 433 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, and the Vikings offense has managed just one touchdown across 24 trips during that stretch. Minnesota is 4-0 regardless.

What isn't known yet is whether new Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley will actually pull off a deal before next month's NFL trade deadline, or stick with Murray. What happens next is Minnesota playing the New Orleans Saints, then heading into its Week 6 bye, when head coach Kevin O'Connell is expected to have a lot to think about if Murray's play doesn't turn around.

The stat line raising eyebrows

Murray has played roughly nine quarters this season. In that time, the Vikings offense has produced one touchdown on 24 opportunities, a number that stands out given Minnesota hasn't lost a game. The team already made one dramatic move at the position this year, trading former No. 10 overall pick JJ McCarthy to the New York Giants for a fifth-round pick. McCarthy was 23 years old with just 10 career starts when that deal happened.

The Jalen Hurts angle

The speculation centers on Hurts, who is 28 and has led two different teams to Super Bowl appearances, winning one ring. He's in the third season of a five-year, $255 million contract with Philadelphia that includes an opt-out after the 2027 season, meaning a team trading for him could treat it as a short-term arrangement with a built-in exit.

Philadelphia has already moved one starter this year, trading offensive lineman Cam Jurgens for a 2028 second-round pick. That leaves the Eagles with two first-round picks and two second-round picks in the 2028 draft, which happens to fall a couple of months after the point at which Philadelphia could release Hurts without a major financial penalty.

What happens next

Teasley is a new, largely unknown GM who wasn't with the Vikings through free agency or the draft, so there's no track record to judge how aggressive he'll be. He's already shown a willingness to shake up the roster, including churning the practice squad to see what different players can offer. Whether that extends to a blockbuster quarterback trade for Hurts, or anyone else, should become clearer as the trade deadline approaches and Minnesota comes out of its Week 6 bye.

Facts per Yahoo Sports, A to Z Sports. Opinion is the taproom's.