Summer just began, but the Minnesota Vikings will report to training camp faster than you can say “mosquito.” As is so often the case, there will be plenty of intrigue around the quarterback position, as J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray battle for the starting spot.
While sweltering heat and humidity won’t wait until August, fans are getting a taste of what camp could be like as the team began offseason team activities this week. That isn’t because the Vikings are clanging pads and making noises fit for an NFL Films feature. It’s because everyone has already started breaking down fundamentals and press conferences, trying to decide which side they’re on.
By the time the Vikings hit training camp, fans may be on “Team Kyler” or “Team Nine” in the same way teens took sides among broccoli-haired vampires and buff werewolves in the late 2000s. The ideal approach is to stay in the middle and not get attached to either of them.
That may come off as not being a “real fan,” but it’s hard to blame anyone based on how the 2025 season played out.
The Vikings and their fans poured everything into McCarthy’s first year as a starter, and the result was a roller coaster ride from hell. What was supposed to be a push for the first Super Bowl appearance in nearly 50 years turned into a constant discussion about fundamentals, drying concrete, and the timing of childbirth. Before you knew it, McCarthy went from franchise savior to Woody’s nightmare in Toy Story.
Maybe Kevin O’Connell never said the words “I don’t want to play with you anymore,” but his actions this offseason sure sent that message. The Vikings brought Murray in to bring some stability and professionalism to the quarterback position, and it seems like the upcoming competition may be as predetermined as the team’s search for a general manager.
But even if Kyler wins the job, you have to ask yourself: Are either of these quarterbacks going to be on the roster in 2027?
That may be the real question to pick apart as the competition heats up. Murray looks like a polished QB1 in shorts and a T-shirt. He’s also known for getting off to fast starts before cratering right around the time a certain video game comes out. Murray’s health is another discussion. He has an equal chance of ending the season on the sidelines as he does getting destroyed in another first-round playoff loss.
That would open the door for McCarthy, but nobody seems to trust him. After being open with reporters in his first year as a starter, McCarthy seemed moodier during Wednesday’s interview. Of course, anyone would be tight-lipped when tying your shoelaces too tight results in a headline. Still, his answers felt rehearsed as he tried not to cut a five-star promo on Murray.
McCarthy could be motivated to leave Murray in the dust, but he’ll probably have to wait his turn. Even then, McCarthy may appear to have his fundamentals set in a controlled seven-on-seven passing drill. Still, O’Connell believed the same thing before last season, only to see McCarthy threaten the nosebleed seats with errant passes during actual games.
If Murray gets hurt and McCarthy doesn’t perform, that’s when things get interesting. The Vikings will have a new GM by the end of this season, and even if it’s the presumed favorite, Rob Brzezinski, he has to know he won’t last long without a quarterback.
That could lead to Brzezinski giving Murray “The Sam Darnold Deal,” “The Baker Mayfield Deal,” or whatever recycled phrase analysts are using next spring. It could also have the Vikings try to work out “The Jordan Love Deal” with McCarthy, declining his fifth-year option and agreeing to a short-term extension to buy time.
But the most likely outcome is bringing in a ringer. The 2027 draft class is loaded with talent. With eight picks, O’Connell could take his second crack at finding a quarterback of the future if Arch Manning, Dante Moore, or another franchise signal-caller slides down the board.
The Vikings could also decide they’ve had enough of it and scan the league for disgruntled signal callers. Joe Burrow is an interesting candidate if the Cincinnati Bengals’ offseason spending spree doesn’t turn out. But it’s more likely the Vikings will go back to the Murray bin, finding the next quarterback to recycle and use like Dennis Green used Warren Moon, Jim McMahon, and Randall Cunningham during the 1990s.
It’s not exactly a message of hope in a year where the Vikings believe an average quarterback can get them closer to their 14-win form than the 4-8 display they put on to start last season. Still, for fans looking to get on a bandwagon, it may be best to sit this one out and see what Minnesota decides to do one year from now.
