Oct 29, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Former Carolina Panthers broad receiver Steve Smith on the sidelines working with NFL Movies at Financial institution of America Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports activities
Minnesota Vikings followers are optimistic that between two quarterbacks — Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy — the franchise might be in good arms this season and past. However don’t inform that to Steve Smith, who ripped each males final week, because the organized group actions (OTAs) received underway.
Smith panned McCarthy’s total ability set and poked enjoyable at Murray’s online game pastime.
Smith’s Feedback Flip Up the Warmth on Vikings QB Room
Former Panthers broad receiver and NFL analyst Steve Smith Sr. stands on the sector earlier than a preseason matchup between the Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens at Financial institution of America Stadium. Smith transitioned into broadcasting after a adorned taking part in profession and stays one among soccer’s most outspoken tv personalities. Aug. 21, 2021. Obligatory Credit score: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Smith Isn’t Shy about Murray and McCarthy
Smith took on the Vikings’ quarterback scenario from his perspective of how broad receiver Justin Jefferson ought to really feel.
“Justin Jefferson probably needs to read that book that A.J. Brown was using on the sideline. I don’t see a chance. Do you know who can beat J.J. McCarthy? Anybody with a heartbeat,” Smith stated on ESPN’s Get Up.
“And Kyler Murray, good luck. I hope things improve for him. I hope he stays off the Call of Duty and starts getting to his playbook.”
The Vikings even have Carson Wentz at quarterback on their depth chart, however he escaped Smith’s scorn.
The McCarthy Slander
Neither competitor is new criticism. The primary knock on McCarthy, not expressly talked about by Smith, is sturdiness. McCarthy started his profession in 2024 by lacking all 17 video games as a consequence of a torn meniscus. The scenario gave rise to Sam Darnold’s reclamation story and the now-infamous lore in Vikings historical past of letting Darnold stroll in 2025 free company. It additionally set into movement a spree of accidents for McCarthy, even after he recovered.
The younger passer has 24 missed video games as a consequence of a torn meniscus, a excessive ankle sprain, a concussion, and a damaged bone in his throwing hand. All instructed, McCarthy has been on the sidelines for 73% of all eligible video games.
Except for well being, McCarthy was not constant as a first-year starter. He typically struggled with the essential mechanics of the quarterback place and would go from excessive highs to low lows. For instance, working the offense in a primary sense could be difficult for the Michigan alumnus in Quarters 1, 2, and three, after which in some way, with a sport on the road, he’d flip into John Elway within the 4th Quarter.
In fact, all of this occurred in simply two seasons, and McCarthy is 23 years outdated. He has time to mature and develop like hundreds of quarterbacks earlier than him. Keep tuned.
The Murray Slander
A major notion downside has lengthy plagued Murray: his online game habits. Many followers and media shops understand Murray as extra devoted to gaming than soccer, or at the least missing the singular dedication of different high quarterbacks. Smith’s current feedback definitely bolstered this narrative.
The basis of this notion lies within the notorious “study clause” in Murray’s Cardinals extension 4 years in the past. Arizona controversially inserted language into the deal that demanded an unbiased movie research. That instantly drew widespread criticism, showing each peculiar and, frankly, awkward. Whereas the Cardinals finally rescinded the clause, the harm to Murray’s fame was already achieved.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray drops again and delivers a go throughout the second half of a highway sport towards the Chicago Bears at Soldier Subject. Murray remained the centerpiece of Arizona’s offense, counting on his arm expertise and mobility to create alternatives. Dec. 5, 2021. Obligatory Credit score: Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports activities.
That’s the fame he should now shed in Minnesota. Past merely taking part in effectively, Murray should unequivocally show that soccer is his singular focus. Coming off a 9-8 season, the Vikings will count on him to raise them to playoff competition. Securing a postseason win or two could be a considerable increase for the whole group, together with the pinnacle coach, who could possibly be on the recent seat if a dropping season emerged.
Including one other layer to his motivation is his contentious departure from Arizona. His efficient ousting by the Cardinals — a franchise not precisely famend for stellar possession or astute roster choices — in favor of Jacoby Brissett and rookie Carson Beck is, frankly, embarrassing.
It’s additionally unusual that Arizona continues to be contributing to Murray’s wage whereas he performs for Minnesota, which enabled the Vikings to accumulate him for a mere $1.3 million on his March contract.
Murray can concurrently actual revenge on Arizona, utterly reset his fame, and rewrite the subsequent chapter of his profession — all inside a single season. A 12 months that includes 30 touchdowns and over 3,500 passing yards would seemingly re-establish him within the $50 million-per-year quarterback market by 2027, whether or not that payday comes from Minnesota or one other group.
Conversely, a 7-10 season or worse, compounded by additional accidents and questions on his management, would ship his profession down a drastically completely different path. It might relegate this Vikings chapter to merely one other “prove-it” cease.
Murray because the Vivid Early Frontrunner
When the primary week of OTAs wound down, one angle grew to become clear; it’s Murray’s job to lose. He sounded just like the veteran frontrunner and appeared the half on the sector.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy flips by way of the air after a deal with by Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell throughout a divisional showdown at Ford Subject. The play captured the bodily nature of an NFC North rivalry sport as gamers converged across the collision. Nov. 2, 2025. Obligatory Credit score: Junfu Han-Imagn Pictures.
McCarthy can nonetheless rating the upset, nevertheless it may take a minor or main damage to tip the scales. Murray has the expertise, arm energy, passing accuracy, and velocity to tout. There’s a motive Murray was drafted first total in 2019, and McCarthy slid to tenth for the Vikings in 2024. Murray has extra instruments, even when McCarthy is 5 inches taller.
The battle kicks off in about eight weeks at coaching camp in Eagan.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
