BM #7

Byron Murphy Jr.

Cornerback · Washington

Byron Murphy Jr. is a Pro Bowl cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings who played college football at Washington.

Byron Murphy Jr. has developed into one of Minnesota's most reliable defensive backs, earning his first Pro Bowl nod and a major contract along the way. A former Washington Huskie and 2019 second-round pick by Arizona, he signed with the Vikings and broke out as a ballhawk. He was named Defensive MVP at the 2025 Pro Bowl Games.

★ Pro Bowl selection (2025)

★ 2025 Pro Bowl Games Defensive MVP

★ Career-high six interceptions in 2024

★ Second-round NFL draft pick (Arizona, 2019)

Path to the league

Murphy starred at Washington before the Cardinals selected him in the second round of the 2019 draft. He spent five seasons in Arizona working primarily in the slot before signing with Minnesota, where the move to a larger role paid off.

Career highlights

In his first Vikings season in 2024, Murphy started all 17 games and set career highs with six interceptions and 14 pass deflections while adding 81 tackles. He earned his first Pro Bowl selection and won Defensive MVP at the 2025 Pro Bowl Games after intercepting Drake Maye. Minnesota rewarded him with a three-year extension worth roughly $66 million.

2025 season

Murphy returned as a cornerstone of the Vikings secondary in 2025 on his new contract. He remained Minnesota's top boundary and slot option after his Pro Bowl breakout.

Sources

Vikings.com: Justin Jefferson, Byron Murphy Defensive MVP at Pro Bowl
ESPN: Byron Murphy Jr. player page

Statistics

2025 season and career

2025 Season · Defense

17 games played

TOT

SOLO

SACK

INT

▶

Defense · career

Year	Team	GP	TOT	SOLO	SACK	INT	FF	FR	PD
2025	vikings	17	71	48	0	2	0	1	7
2024	vikings	17	81	62	0	6	1	0	14
2023	vikings	14	57	43	0	3	1	0	13
2022	cardinals	9	36	29	0.5	0	0	2	4
2021	cardinals	16	64	49	0.5	4	1	1	12
2020	cardinals	15	51	40	2	0	0	2	8
2019	cardinals	16	78	66	0	1	0	0	10