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When many talk about the Minnesota Vikings‘ QB situation, it’s assumed that the team will pursue a veteran signal-caller in free agency. However, could the Vikings decide to find that competition for J.J. McCarthy in the 2026 NFL Draft?
McCarthy had a challenging 2025 NFL season, posting a passer rating of 72.6 with 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 10 games. As a result of this production, rumors are emerging that the Vikings are looking to find another QB to challenge McCarthy.
While free agency looks to be the place where the Vikings will find their QB, CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson noted that Minnesota should consider the draft, even though it’s a thin QB class, and identified a draft prospect who makes sense for the team with their second-round pick.
“They pick No. 49, and I’m hesitating because maybe you bring in some competition, and that competition looks like it could be in the form of Carson Beck,” Wilson said during a Feb. 10 appearance on CBS Sports HQ. “He is going to be a Day Two pick; you may disagree with that. NFL teams like Carson Beck a lot. He will come in and provide competition.
“He is a system quarterback, in the purest sense of the word—good or bad—and I think he will do exactly what KOC wants him to do. [Beck will also] put a little pressure on the current quarterback, J. J. McCarthy. We’ll see how that plays out.”
Beck had a passer rating of 157.0 with 3,813 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 16 games in 2025 for the Miami Hurricanes while leading them to the national title game, per StatMuse.
Kyler Murray Could Be Option for Minnesota
As for potential free agent targets, one name in the rumor mill is Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray. On Feb. 8, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero floated Kyler Murray’s name as a realistic option for the Vikings should Arizona decide to cut him, and he’s available via free agency.
“The Vikings have not yet made a decision exactly what they’re going to do with their quarterback room, but they are expected to bring in a veteran to compete with J.J. McCarthy. It’s very early in that process,” Pelissero said on “NFL Gameday.”
Vikings Insider Talks Kyler Murray Amid Speculation
On the Feb. 10 edition of The Alec Lewis Show, Alec Lewis of The Athletic shared his take on Murray and whether the former No. 1 overall pick would be a fit in Minnesota.
“Kyler Murray, for me, just strictly on raw talent alone, he’s probably a notch above Mac [Jones],” Lewis said. “But you’re dealing with a lot of dynamics with Kyler where, does he see the field maybe as well as Mac? I’m not so sure.
“Is the arm strength comparable to Mac? Probably. He can make more happen with his legs, but he’s had durability concerns himself. Is he as stable in the pocket as a guy like Mac, Kirk Cousins, or Derek Carr? Or even Geno [Smith] maybe? That’s probably a fair question.”
The Vikings played a major role in former Top 3 pick Sam Darnold turning his career around. Maybe head coach Kevin O’Connell rolls the dice on Murray if the Cardinals decide to cut ties with him.
Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports writer for Heavy.com, covering the NFL, MLB, and college football. He has previously covered the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has freelanced for PSG Talk, covering Paris Saint-Germain. He also worked as an editor at Athlon Sports, focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo
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