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Vikings quarterback rumor could lead to trade with Steelers, Rams or Jets originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Minnesota Vikings are set to have a quarterback competition this offseason between J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray.
After McCarthy posted a rough 2025 season, Minnesota decided to bring in Murray to compete with the Michigan product. However, it sounds like many around the league believe Murray will have no problem establishing himself as the Vikings' clear-cut QB1.
According to SportsBoom's Jason La Canfora, many NFL coaches believe Murray will separate himself from McCarthy quickly and win the starting job in Minnesota.
"Several high-level NFL offensive coaches, many of whom frankly did not have great grades on McCarthy prior to Minnesota taking him 10th overall in 2024, believe Murray will be savvy enough to win that job in Minnesota and distance himself from the youngster relatively quickly," La Canfora said.
A defensive coach also told La Canfora that Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell was looking for an upgrade over McCarthy, not just competition.
“He [O'Connell] wasn’t looking for a backup, he’s looking for an upgrade. Look, I’m not a big Murray guy, but he’s a better quarterback than McCarthy. Is that really a question?”
It's clear that the Vikings have lost trust in McCarthy, and there's a high chance he's not even the franchise's Week 1 starter in 2026.
If Minnesota rolls with Murray over McCarthy, they could consider trading the young signal-caller and get some value back, as he's still a high-potential payer.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Rams, and New York Jets come to mind as possible landing spots for McCarthy in that scenario.
Depending on what happens with Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh, McCarthy could emerge as a trade target for the Steelers as a developmental project or even a potential starter.
Los Angeles would also be a great fit for McCarthy, as the 23-year-old would receive the opportunity to learn from an MVP quarterback in Matthew Stafford and develop in Sean McVay's offense.
New York would also give McCarthy the chance to learn from a veteran in Geno Smith, and the 2024 No. 10 overall pick could also find playing time with the Jets if Smith doesn't perform well.
McCarthy may just need a fresh start and a change of scenery as his future with the Vikings is looking more and more uncertain heading into the 2026 campaign.
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