Quarterback Competition Heats Up for Vikings

It seems like the two former first-round picks could use a cage match to settle things.

Following Kyler Murray’s one-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings, it was clear he’d get a shot at starting, especially since quarterback JJ McCarthy hadn’t shown much promise over his two-season stint.

“There was plenty of interest in the quarterback position for the Minnesota Vikings,” said head coach Kevin O’Connell. He noted that the team looked at a variety of options when making their decision.

“I believe we managed to bring in some really talented players with experience to our quarterback room,” O’Connell continued. “That’s something I’m genuinely excited about, as we’re aiming to enhance a situation that’s already competitive.”

Murray has spent his entire career with the Cardinals since being the first overall draft pick in 2019, but he’s only tasted playoff action once, facing a loss against the Rams in the 2022 wild-card round.

Statistics from Pro Football Focus indicate Murray excelled in 2020 and 2021 under head coach Kliff Kingsbury, achieving average ratings of 82.8 and 82.9 in those seasons. However, his performance has noticeably dropped since then.

In fact, last season, he managed an average of only 72.2 points, placing him 20th in the NFL.

In comparison, McCarthy’s rating was even lower, at 61.8, ranking 33rd, ahead of only new Jets quarterback Geno Smith.

As the Vikings consider their quarterback future, there are many factors at play. Murray’s contract avoids a franchise tag, which means the team can’t tag him at the season’s end. If they see promise in him, an extension might be necessary.

McCarthy, on the other hand, seems to have lost the trust of the team after a season riddled with injuries, coupled with the departure of the general manager who originally drafted him.

Last season, the Vikings ended with a 9-8 record and missed the playoffs the previous year, even after securing 14 wins with Darnold at the helm.