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ESPN Pumps the Brakes on J.J. McCarthy Panic
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- ESPN Pumps the Brakes on J.J. McCarthy Panic
Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Some believe that, because the Minnesota Vikings signed Kyler Murray last week, the J.J. McCarthy era is over. But according to ESPN, that's just not true: Minnesota is not ready to give up on the 23-year-old.
The national read on McCarthy remains calmer than parts of the internet.
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McCarthy certainly has an uphill battle ahead, but he cannot be ruled out as the Vikings' long-term QB1 solution .
Minnesota's QB Plan Need Not Subtract McCarthy
Training camp will feature a Murray vs. McCarthy battle, if only in spirit.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) delivers a pass during the second half of a divisional matchup against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Nov 23, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. McCarthy steps into the throw under pressure as Minnesota looks to generate offense in a tightly contested NFC North game. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-Imagn Images.
Dan Graziano: McCarthy Done in MIN Is an Overreaction
ESPN frequently publishes an "overreaction" piece, and this week, that centered on developments from NFL free agency.
On McCarthy, Graziano scribed , "J.J. McCarthy and Michael Penix Jr. are both done as starting QBs. Verdict: OVERREACTION. The Vikings signed Kyler Murray , and the Falcons signed Tua Tagovailoa , thrusting those veterans into ostensible competitions with the 10th and eighth overall picks from the 2024 draft, respectively."
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"McCarthy is coming off a terrible and injury-plagued first NFL season after missing his entire rookie season due to a knee injury. He entered the offseason healthy, but after throwing 12 interceptions and taking 27 sacks in his 10 starts last season, he has given the Vikings reason to doubt whether he'll turn out to be the quarterback they thought he was when they moved up a spot to draft him."
McCarthy has played in just 30% of games since turning pro two years ago.
Graziano continued, "Murray is very likely to end up starting ahead of McCarthy, unless a light comes on this offseason and McCarthy performs well enough in the summer to beat him out. But the Vikings aren't ready to give up on McCarthy just yet, and they're hoping Murray's arrival has a positive impact on him."
"The Atlanta story is different; my sense is the Falcons view Penix as the starter once he's healthy and Tagovailoa is just there for coverage in case he isn't ready."
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The Stakes Have Changed No Matter What
Regardless, McCarthy has not experienced a fun offseason; his career outlook has changed. Foremost, the Vikings fired the guy who drafted him — 3.5 weeks after the end of the regular season — giving the club a scapegoat, if needed, for a "bad" draft pick. When the dust settles, through their actions, not their words, Minnesota's brass can claim that Kwesi Adofo-Mensah got the McCarthy draft pick wrong, and Adofo-Mensah's termination was the comeuppance.
Even then, head coach Kevin O'Connell had a binary choice: find a quarterback this offseason who legitimately mentors and competes with McCarthy at training camp — think: Jimmy Garoppolo , for example — or obtain a stud to mostly end the offseason quarterback competition.
O'Connell picked Murray, and he's virtually guaranteed to start over McCarthy, barring injury. McCarthy's stakes have swung violently.
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Remember Murray's Injury History
Why should McCarthy stay motivated? Hungry to retake his QB1 job? Well, McCarthy personally has missed the aforementioned 70% of all NFL games due to injury; that's the big knock on him through two seasons. But his new counterpart, Murray, isn't a beacon of pristine health. Murray has missed 26% of all games in his career because of injuries.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) throws along the sideline during pregame warmups ahead of a matchup with the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on Nov 7, 2021 in Santa Clara, California. Murray loosens up before kickoff, going through routine throws prior to the NFC West contest. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports.
Generally speaking, Murray plays 12 games per season.
If Murray succumbs to his typical pattern, the Vikings would tap McCarthy on the shoulder for QB1 duty, and that would be his big chance at redemption. Whether he's ready will be up to him. McCarthy showed flashes of extreme promise in 2025, especially in the 4th Quarter of games, and in fact, after Week 14, checked in as the sixth-best quarterback in the NFL.
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Perhaps he could enter a game in relief of Murray and never relinquish the QB1 job.
Three More Years of Team Control
Another reason not to panic? For McCarthy or his fans? Well, the guy still has time. First-rounders come with an optional fifth-year lever, and if McCarthy, 23, is rocking and rolling by 2028, Minnesota can simply exercise that contractual feature.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) throws short passes during pregame warmups ahead of a preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders at U.S. Bank Stadium on Aug 10, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. McCarthy works through drills as attention builds around the rookie's development entering his first NFL season. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
That's one of the major perks of Murray in Minnesota to accompany McCarthy. So long as McCarthy doesn't voice outward disgruntlement, the Vikings can hang onto him for the next three years, hoping his durability and consistency turn the corner.
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The only reason the Vikings would have to trade McCarthy would be if he demanded it. Given his personality, humility, and drive to succeed, he seems to have the self-awareness to recognize that he wasn't healthy over the last two seasons and that he often struggled during his first year as a starter.
ESPN doesn't believe Minnesota is anxious to offload McCarthy. He might just stay in Minnesota for maturation and development.
