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National NFL Voice Stirs the Pot as Vikings Launch the QB Battle
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- National NFL Voice Stirs the Pot as Vikings Launch the QB Battle
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Whoever loses the passer battle in the Twin Cities is going to be left disappointed. How that disappointment manifests itself remains to be seen, leading to national NFL voice Mike Florio spilling some digital ink on the topic.
At Pro Football Talk , Florio took on the issue, swerving into all kinds of different questions and scenarios within the unfolding drama at TCO Performance Center. Consider the concluding thoughts: "In theory, Murray provides the Vikings with a no-lose proposition. Murray's presence will either get McCarthy to step up, or it will cause him to step off. The flip side is that someone will lose out on starting, and his disappointment will need to be managed."
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And the final lines: "That's why O'Connell will need to have an effective plan for how to deal with the guy who comes in second. He seems to be the type who does. The only question is whether it will work."
National NFL Voice Digs into Vikings QB Battle
Broadly speaking, the expectation is that Kyler Murray will be the Vikings' QB1 in 2026. And, to be sure, there's good reason for that belief.
The 28-year-old passer is among the most gifted quarterbacks in the NFL, largely contributing to him being chosen at No. 1 in the 2019 NFL Draft. He has since proven to be a wonderfully accurate passer who boasts insane quickness. Via the air and the ground, Murray can pick a team apart.
Jan 7, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) huddles with the offense in the first half against the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Part of what has made his story odd, though, is that team success hasn't followed.
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In that way, Murray is strikingly similar to Kirk Cousins. Both arrived as borderline franchise passers during free agency. Both offer very promising statistics but without any team success to boast about. In each instance, the failure of terrible football teams — Washington and Arizona — was held up as key contributors for why things would be different as the new QB1 for the Vikings.
— READ MORE: Vikings O-Lineman Gaining Ground for Job Opening — — READ MORE: Is that Vikings Rumor Finally Going to Turn into a Deal? —
A key distinguishing factor for Murray is that he's being forced to fend off a highly-picked, homegrown talent in J.J. McCarthy. Cousins had to overcome no such hurdle. Moreover, Kyler Murray is costing just $1.3 million, a far cry from the $84 million (guaranteed, of course) that Cousins snagged to lead the Vikings through the wilderness instead of to the promised land.
Seeing Murray win in training camp won't be surprising. Seeing him then experience true team success is an entirely different issue.
Dec 21, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) and head coach Kevin O'Connell hug before the game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
Kick it back to Florio, who writes that "the guy who misses the chance to provide the Vikings with what they need to get to the playoffs and perhaps win their first postseason game since 2019 will be very disappointed. And possibly upset."
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Broader context about Murray's past: "When Murray signed with the Vikings for a mere $1.3 million in March (the Cardinals owe him another $35.8 million this year), the thinking was that he had the inside track. Sure, the past few seasons haven't been great. But the Cardinals had a role in that. Beyond the fact that they haven't had enough talent around him, they threw a wrench into the relationship by trying to jam an ill-advised homework clause into the long-term deal he signed after his first three seasons, which ended with the offensive rookie of the year award in 2019 and Pro Bowl berths in 2020 and 2021."
Plus the more recent developments: "The public accounts of the team's mandatory minicamp created the impression that McCarthy is making strides and Murray is struggling."
At minicamp last week, J.J. McCarthy wasn't perfect but he had a better week than Kyler Murray. By no means does that opinion mean that McCarthy is the favorite. Rather, it's a reminder that there's still a competition unfolding.
Mike Florio then offers an open-ended observation: "That could (or perhaps should) light a fire under Murray to view the next six weeks not as a break or a vacation but as a challenge. And it will become obvious to the coaching staff if Murray is taking full advantage of the extra time to get himself ready to clearly and conclusively win the job once training camp opens."
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Not to beat a dead horse, but being at TCO helps. I was able to ask Murray about how he plans to spend his time off. His answer? That he doesn't view the summer as being time off. He told me he plans to grind, continuing to improve ahead of training camp .
Oct 30, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) scrambles against the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
The current guess on this end of the internet is that Murray is the starter in Week 1 but doesn't start the most games in the 2026 season. Either due to injury or poor play, Murray takes a backseat to McCarthy.
Kyler Murray was able to get a no-tag clause into his Vikings deal. He didn't get a no-trade clause, though. We'll see how things end up shaking out; what I will say is that a future Vikings QB room consisting of J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer shouldn't be viewed as an impossibility.
