Byron Murphy Jr. just gave the Vikings another reminder of why they brought him back.
Murphy was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week after snagging two interceptions off Tyler Shough in Minnesota’s 23-13 win at New Orleans. It was the first two-pick game by a Viking since Cam Bynum did it in 2023, a neat little connection with Bynum set to return to Minnesota with Indianapolis on October 25, right after the Vikings’ Week 6 bye.
The Vikings were quick to highlight Murphy’s awareness when they announced the honor. His award followed weekly recognition for Isaiah Rodgers, Myles Price, and Will Reichard, giving Minnesota an NFC honoree in four straight weeks.
Murphy, 28, keeps stacking takeaways. He has 19 career interceptions, with 14 of them coming since he arrived in Minnesota as a free agent in 2023.
The former Arizona second-round pick in 2019 already has three interceptions through five games this season, putting him halfway to his 2024 career high of six. That kind of ball production goes a long way toward validating Minnesota’s decision to re-sign him last year, even if it doesn’t capture everything he does in coverage.
He and Bynum were both key pieces of the Vikings’ secondary in 2023 and 2024, and together they piled up 14 interceptions across those two seasons. Murphy had nine of them, Bynum five. It’s part of why Vikings fans have seen just how dangerous Brian Flores’ defense can be when it gets the ball in the air.
Murphy’s first interception came with help from Eric Wilson’s pressure. The second arrived late, on an overthrow toward Chris Olave with fewer than three minutes left. Murphy read Olave’s double move and stayed disciplined, ready for the receiver’s attempt to sell one route before breaking deeper.
That discipline matters in Flores’ defense. If Murphy had bit on the first move, Olave had a real chance to get behind him. Instead, Murphy stayed where he needed to be and punished Shough’s mistake when New Orleans was scrambling for points.
Bynum’s own track record is part of the story too. Minnesota’s fourth-round pick in 2021 is now with the Colts after joining Indianapolis in 2025, and through Week 5 of his time there, the Colts list him with four interceptions, nine passes defensed, 103 tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a sack. All four of those picks came last season.
Murphy’s strong play at corner doesn’t answer every question about how Minnesota replaced Bynum at safety, because those spots ask for different things. But Bynum’s production in Indianapolis means he’s still a player the Vikings’ offense will have to account for.
Kevin O’Connell could lean on motion to probe Indianapolis’ coverage, then mix underneath routes with deeper shots to stress Bynum’s decisions. Minnesota can push the ball downfield, but Kyler Murray can’t lose track of Bynum once the play begins. If Bynum stays deep, the safer play is to take what’s underneath and force Indianapolis to make the tackle.
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