After injuries and inconsistent quarterback play derailed their 2025 campaign, the Minnesota Vikings refused to leave anything to chance. Earlier this offseason, they signed Kyler Murray to a veteran minimum deal, giving themselves an experienced option alongside J.J. McCarthy.
Now, the Vikings are going into the new season with legitimate competition under center. And it left the NFL world divided on who should open the season as QB.
But Adam Thielen believes the answer depends on what head coach Kevin O’Connell wants from his quarterback.
Adam Thielen Feels Kevin O’Connell’s System Will Decide QB1 Between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy
Speaking on ESPN’s “NFL Live,” the former Vikings wide receiver explained that the competition is less about talent and more about fitting O’Connell’s demanding system.
“I think it’s important to know what KOC is looking for in a quarterback,” Thielen said. “He wants to run the entire offense at the line of scrimmage.”
“And so what I don’t think people understand is it doesn’t mean that they’re calling the plays [at the] line of scrimmage,” Thilen added. “He wants to be able to basically, most teams have like one through ten in their maybe two-minute offense. Well, this offense, they have one through 50, and it’s a normal offense, on the line of scrimmage. So he wants to be able to get to the line of scrimmage, see the defense, call the play, and be pretty complex.”
“So what that means for the quarterback is not only do you have to know all these 50 plays, but you also have to know what every receiver is doing because receivers, like I said before, are not very smart,” he added.
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Considering this explanation, McCarthy fits the blueprint O’Connell wants. His experience in pro-style offenses prepared him for a system built around pre-snap decisions and full-field command. That also explains why the Vikings invested in him in 2024.
McCarthy, 23, also has now spent two years learning O’Connell’s system, so he has an advantage over Murray. Still, the battle remains open because the Michigan product has not secured the role beyond doubt.
He missed his entire first season with a knee injury, delaying his development. Then, during the 2025 season, he struggled to produce consistently when given opportunities.
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McCarthy finished the last season with 1,632 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions across 10 games while posting a 72.6 passer rating. PFN’s Quarterback Impact Metric gave him a 67.0 grade, which ranked him 34th among qualifying quarterbacks.
On the other hand, Murray’s experience gives him an edge in some areas, but concerns about his leadership continue to follow him. His game also depends heavily on mobility, and given his age and recent injury, learning O’Connell’s system will be a challenge for him.
Murray last played the full regular season in 2024, where he threw for 3,851 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions while adding 572 rushing yards and five more scores on the ground.
However, a foot injury derailed his 2025 campaign, limiting him to five games. He finished the season with 962 passing yards, six touchdowns, three interceptions, and an 88.6 passer rating.
For now, the competition remains wide open, and training camp will provide clarity on whether McCarthy’s familiarity or Murray’s experience ultimately wins out.
