Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy throws throughout first-half motion in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. On Dec. 14, 2025, McCarthy continued his first season as Minnesota’s beginning quarterback whereas going through one other playoff contender on the highway. The younger passer remained one of many franchise’s most intently watched gamers. Necessary Credit score: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Pictures.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy faces a really pivotal yr in 2026, his third season as a professional after Minnesota drafted him because the franchise quarterback answer in 2024. The membership additionally has Kyler Murray within the combine to compete with McCarthy for the highest job this summer season, a lot in order that some have puzzled if McCarthy has performed his final recreation in Minnesota as a starter.
In response to ESPN, McCarthy has accomplished no such factor — and he may even win the battle over Murray.
Vikings QB Competitors Has Room for a McCarthy Surge
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy warms up throughout coaching camp observe in Eagan as preparations continued for the upcoming season. McCarthy took half in drills on August 2, 2024, whereas Minnesota evaluated the rookie quarterback throughout his first NFL camp and commenced constructing the offense round its future signal-caller. Necessary Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Dan Graziano: Don’t Rule McCarthy Out Simply But
Graziano of ESPN sized up scorching takes across the NFL this week, evaluating whether or not they have been overreactions. Alongside the way in which, he chimed in on McCarthy’s future.
“J.J. McCarthy has started his last game for the Vikings. Verdict: OVERREACTION. McCarthy could prove to be the better option in camp. If that happens, the players on the roster will see that and buy into the decision. You could make the case that the best outcome for the Vikings is for McCarthy to win the job and become the player they thought he could be when they moved up to draft him,” Graziano opined.
“But even if that doesn’t happen in camp, Murray is far from a perfect solution, which is why the Cardinals are paying him $36 million this year to play for someone else. If McCarthy reacts to being thrust into a competition the way the Vikings hope he does, he could end up starting games for them this season.”
The Vikings haven’t had a real quarterback battle in a very long time; the stage is about for July and August.
Graziano continued, “He’s also under contract for 2026, whereas Murray is not (and Murray’s contract includes a no-franchise tag provision). Sure, it’s possible Murray thrives in O’Connell’s offense while McCarthy crumbles.”
“But either outcome is far from a sure thing. There’s a long way to go before the start of the 2026 season, let alone the end of it. And on some level at least, the Vikings hope there’s still a long way to go in McCarthy’s NFL story.”
Some Momentum within the Battle?
When the very first week of OTAs obtained underway, McCarthy turned heads with feedback that some perceived as weird. He mentioned welcoming Murray into the combination felt like a highschool scenario, whereas Murray provided a extra diplomatic reply to the identical query.
Thereafter, when motion truly translated to the sphere, McCarthy and Murray traded productive outings, with McCarthy even gaining momentum in a battle that the majority assume Murray will win. Murray threw some interceptions, and McCarthy seemed sturdier.
It’s the cycle of a quarterback competitors — ups and downs — and go-time at coaching camp is about 5 weeks away. Murray stays the frontrunner, however McCarthy isn’t a chump.
Teammates Imagine in McCarthy
Vikings proper deal with O’Neill mentioned about McCarthy in early Might, “Even through some of the low points, I mean, we were 4-8 at one point last year. We rattled off five straight. Like, guys believe in him, and guys wanted us to figure it out and be better as an offense. You hear the term ‘lose the locker room.’ He had the locker room more than anybody I’d seen ever.”
“You want to root for him. You want to do well, and you want him to keep taking those next steps. If I was judged after my first 10 games in the NFL, I’m not playing right now. There’s a part of it where he’s still so fresh, and he’s only going to continue to get better. The whole attitude from us was, ‘How do we go there as an offense together?’”
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy goes via pregame warmups earlier than a preseason recreation in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. McCarthy ready on August 10, 2024, by engaged on mechanics and timing as Minnesota evaluated its rookie passer throughout one among his earliest NFL appearances beneath the house lights. Necessary Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports activities.
McCarthy’s former teammate, Adam Thielen, echoed the sentiment, saying a couple of weeks in the past, “He’s got all the traits to be a successful quarterback in this league. He has the skills. He has the strong arm. He has the mindset that not a lot of guys have, has this dog mentality that everyone wants to find. So, I love those two aspects of him. I think he’s a guy who loves football; he loves his teammates.”
“You feel that in the locker room with him. Now, was there some things that he needs to work on? Yes. Absolutely. He knows that. And I think he’s gone to the drawing board this offseason, I think he’s taken feedback from coach O’Connell, and coach, I think, was very candid with him of ‘This is what you need to improve on.’”
O’Neill and Thielen wouldn’t make that stuff up. As a lot as potential in a quarterback battle, McCarthy has the help of his teammates.
Besting Murray Nonetheless a Daunting Activity
In the long run, let’s face it: Murray has extra expertise, and he didn’t signal with the Vikings to play backup quarterback. ESPN can stay hopeful about McCarthy, and that’s advantageous, however Murray will seemingly be the Week 1 starter.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy drops again to go in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis. McCarthy labored via his progressions on November 9, 2025, throughout stay recreation motion because the Vikings offense developed across the younger quarterback in his first season main Minnesota’s assault. Necessary Credit score: Brad Rempel-Imagn Pictures.
A extra real looking best-case state of affairs is for McCarthy to shine if Murray will get damage — which occurs to Murray. The previous Cardinal has missed about one-quarter of his profession begins; there’s no motive to imagine he’d all of the sudden develop into sturdy and wholesome in Minnesota.
When that point comes, McCarthy can have his large second. Theoretically, he may ball out, and the Vikings’ authentic draft plan from 2024 would simply be on observe.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
