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Brad Rempel
Two years ago, the Minnesota Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy in the first round, hoping that they could reset their quarterback position. Not only did he get hurt immediately, but he also flopped in year two when given the reins to a starting job.
Not willing to make the same mistakes again, the Vikings lucked out by having Kyler Murray fall right into their laps. With the Arizona Cardinals paying the freight for his contract, Minnesota is on the hook for just $1.3 million. Despite his established track record, Murray won’t just be crowned the next greatest thing in purple.
The Vikings’ QB Reality Is Hard to Ignore
While that’s a fair path to take, the idea that McCarthy will force a real competition seems laughable. It would be foolish to think the former Michigan product hasn’t taken steps forward from a development perspective this offseason. If he learned nothing from falling flat last season, that would be a true problem and something truly scary to think about moving forward.
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Oct 3, 2021; Inglewood, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) walks off the field after the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Rams 37-20. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
On the flip side, it’s wild to think that someone coming in with the baseline that McCarthy has will be able to do anything that pushes Murray down the depth chart. Every talking head under the sun is pushing the narrative that the Vikings will have a true competition. There’s no benefit for Kevin O’Connell or the franchise to come out and thwart the dreams of their young signal caller. We can also have a greater sense of reality.
It’s not as though Murray is some world-beater because he has 87 starts under his belt. He does have a 67.1% career completion percentage, though, and he won a Rookie of the Year award with two Pro Bowl awards in tow as well. He has, however, seen the mountaintop and shown himself capable of that despite playing for an organization that consistently finds itself a dumpster fire.
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Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) warms up on the field before kickoff, Dec. 14, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as the Vikings prepare for a road matchup against the Dallas Cowboys late in the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images.
Now placed in a situation where he gets to work with Kevin O’Connell and an offense that has arguably the best wide receiver room in the league, Murray gets a new lease on life. Short of Murray being injured, there’s just no legitimate way to convince yourself that McCarthy will be capable of winning whatever level of competition is put in front of him.
The Vikings should continue to tell the media the same story they have been telling. The media will continue to push the same narrative we have heard since Murray signed. Ultimately, though, it’s a veteran’s race to lose, and there’s no reason to believe that will happen.
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