Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Vikings are certainly heading into the 2026 season with an interesting dynamic in the QB room. All of the attention in the Twin Cities was on Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy, though they got a bit of a break after the recent acquisition of LaMelo Ball and subsequent banishing of Naz Reid from the Timberwolves. Slowly but surely, the spotlight is shifting back over to the two signal callers.
It’s looking like we’re gonna have a primetime title fight at the QB position during Vikings’ training camp in August, and it could last through the preseason. If you ask some people, they would claim that this is all a show and that Kyler Murray has been the starter behind closed doors ever since he arrived to Minnesota in March. Still, O’Connell and the team are sticking by their guns that this is a straight up battle for the starting spot, and if it’s true, that’s a good thing.
Competition brings the best out of players, especially major sports athletes. Murray can’t really expect to have anything handed to him after his release from the Cardinals, ending a tenure that concluded with zero playoff wins. J.J. McCarthy can benefit from this, because if he has the winning mentality that he’s always been advertised to have, then he should be able to rise to the occasion, right?
Still, the QB room in Minnesota isn’t enough to inspire high levels of confidence of some around the NFL landscape.
Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy Land in 21st on QB Power Rankings
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) warms up before playing against the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Jan. 7, 2024.
Lou Scataglia recently took it upon himself to power rank all of the QB rooms in the NFL. In one of the most recent editions in the series, the Vikings with Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy placed 21st.
Scataglia provided some justification:
“Oh boy. This is certainly a quarterback room. As of now, it would be a massive shock if Kyler Murray did not start for the Minnesota Vikings this year, and I am of the opinion that there was some sort of back-door agreement that Murray would start for the team this year, despite what could end up being marketed as a ‘quarterback competition’ in the media.
JJ McCarthy has unfortunately struggled to stay on the field and just has not been very good when he’s gotten on it. It feels like the Vikings have already thrown in the towel on McCarthy…
…If not, they wouldn’t have signed Murray to begin with.”
Quite the lack of confidence in J.J. McCarthy, which is understandable. It’s fine to say that McCarthy has only played 10 games and it might be too early to throw in the towel on him, but the issue is that we’ve seen 10 games in 2 seasons. It’s not like we’re in Week 11 of his rookie season. No, we are heading into Year 3 of McCarthy’s career and we still can’t be sure he’s the guy.
Kyler Murray Was the Result of Something That Was Always Going to Happen
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray speaks with reporters after signing with the franchise during 2026 NFL free agency, addressing the media in Eagan on March 12, 2026 as the team introduced its new starting signal-caller. Murray discussed the transition, expectations, and his first impressions of Minnesota’s roster. Mandatory Credit: YouTube
The Minnesota Vikings were always going to sign a QB this offseason. Whether it was Kirk Cousins, Geno Smith, or some other cheaper veteran option to come throw the ball this offseason with J.J. McCarthy, a signal caller was always going to be added to this roster.
As fate would have it, Kyler Murray became available for free. Kevin O’Connell spent the entire offseason claiming that the Vikings were going to build the most competitive QB room possible. Since Murray became available, he was automatically the best option. He just happened to basically be free. He will be on the Vikings’ books this offseason for $1.3 million this season, the NFL’s veteran minimum contract.
Why wouldn’t they have signed Kyler Murray?
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