J.J. McCarthy was expected to be the franchise quarterback when the Minnesota Vikings traded up and selected him with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, things have gotten off to a rocky start in his first two years in the NFL.
Why Vikings Might Keep J.J. McCarthy Despite Signing Kyler Murray
McCarthy tore his meniscus in his first preseason game and missed his entire rookie season, and struggled mightily in year two. After the disappointing season, the Vikings signed two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kyler Murray in free agency, leaving many to wonder.
McCarthy’s first year as a starter was a tumultuous one; he ranked as the No. 37 quarterback in PFSN’s Quarterback Impact Metric (QBi), completing 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Despite the inefficiencies, the Vikings were 6-4 in games he started, leading some to believe he would get another opportunity to start in 2026.
“The Vikings have publicly reiterated their feelings about McCarthy and that they see an advantage in giving him competition,” said Alec Lewis of The Athletic. What happens with McCarthy remains a mystery, as many believe he will compete with Murray for the starting quarterback position in training camp. Still, others wonder if he could be headed elsewhere.
“Trading McCarthy would leave no murkiness around the hierarchy in the quarterback room. The Vikings invested too much in McCarthy, though, to pull the plug for anything other than top-tier compensation,” Lewis added.
Given how high the Vikings picked McCarthy and the fact that Murray is under contract for only one year, the most plausible scenario remains that the team holds onto him to compete with Murray for the starting job, hoping the competition brings out the best in the former Michigan quarterback.
A McCarthy trade “cannot be completely ruled out,” Lewis added. Even if he loses the job, having him as insurance in case Murray gets hurt makes sense, given they still have two years of control and a fifth-year option. If Murray were to go down, and McCarthy played well, even if Murray is viewed as the long-term answer, strong play can improve McCarthy’s trade value.
The Vikings was heavily linked to numerous quarterback options via trade and free agency, ahead of the start of the new league year. Given McCarthy’s struggles, but immense upside, and the draft capital tied to him, the situation was very reminiscent of the Indianapolis Colts quarterback situation from a year ago.
Anthony Richardson is a physically gifted quarterback, selected in the top five of the NFL Draft, with immense potential but very little NFL production to back it up. The Colts signed Daniel Jones to a one-year contract, opening competition with Richardson for the job, and Jones ultimately won it. He has since parlayed that into a lucrative, two-year extension with the Colts worth $88 million, with incentives that could push it to $100 million.
While there is no guarantee that Murray will provide the same for the Vikings, the situations are eerily similar. Both Murray and Jones are former first-round quarterbacks seeking a second chance after their tenures with their first teams didn’t work out as hoped.
Murray had a down year in 2025, ranking No. 21 among quarterbacks in PFi, completing 68.3% of his passes for 962 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions. But the 2019 Offensive Rookie of the Year is widely believed to have the inside track for the starting job due to his prior success at the NFL level.
The quarterback battle in the Vikings will be one to keep an eye on throughout training camp and the Preseason. Strong play from McCarthy leading up to the season could result in him earning a starting job in the Vikings or raising his trade value enough to land him one elsewhere.
