Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy, Kyler Murray given bold battle proclamation by NFL analyst originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The general assumption in the football world is that Kyler Murray is going to be the Minnesota Vikings‘ starting quarterback in 2026.
He probably wouldn’t have signed with the Vikes if he didn’t think he could beat out J.J. McCarthy and win the QB1 role.
It’s still quite early in the offseason, though, and a lot can happen. It’s worth considering the idea that McCarthy might have a real chance here, too.
NFL.com analyst Nick Shook recently broke down the fact that there really could be a battle on the hands of both of these quarterbacks in 2026.
“Minnesota’s leaders will tout the benefits of competition when marketing this QB situation entering 2026, but make no mistake: These are two quarterbacks fighting for their futures as starters in the NFL,” Shook writes.
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Murray has to prove he can get the job done after the Arizona Cardinals discarded him.
McCarthy is a former first-round pick who hasn’t yet shown he is a long-term starter in this league.
“If Kyler succeeds, he’ll steal McCarthy’s job,” Shook writes. “If he struggles, McCarthy will have another (and perhaps his last) chance to command the top spot on the depth chart. In theory, one of the two will win out — or the Vikings will slide back into the QB market next spring.”
It’s also crucial for the Vikings to get this right. They have an immensely talented roster, but they need a quarterback that can keep up with the rest of that talent.
They missed the playoffs in 2025 despite their talent. One of Murray or McCarthy has to make sure that doesn’t happen again in 2026.