The Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback battle will be one of the most fascinating stories of the offseason. A season ago, it was simple because J.J. McCarthy was viewed as the future. He was maybe not perfect, but clearly the guy they were going to stick with and figure things out around.
However, Kyler Murray showing up changed the vibe, and with Carson Wentz in there, too, it’s not like McCarthy is just being developed in the background anymore. Rather, he’s pushed to compete and win the quarterback battle.
Damien Woody Casts Doubt on J.J. McCarthy’s Future With Vikings
In Minnesota, the quarterback situation is technically a “competition.” But it doesn’t feel like a clean, 50-50 one.
Murray has been an experienced starter, and he has had real moments in this league. And even recently, he has looked more settled than McCarthy has so far. That does not mean the 23-year-old quarterback, who had a 64.5 PFSN QB Impact Score, cannot get there, but right now, Murray is one step ahead.
Some of that can’t be attributed to McCarthy’s talent but rather the injuries he suffered early on, which messed with his timeline. Rather than building confidence brick by brick, he has been trying to piece things together on the fly, which can be hard for any young quarterback.
And the contract situation matters more than people like to admit. The Vikings don’t really have to stick with Murray, but they also don’t have any reason not to if he plays well.
The Justin Jefferson part of this is also a little telling, as it never fully clicked between him and McCarthy last season, and the Vikings will prioritize the superstar receiver over any other player.
So naturally, there has been some curiosity about what it might look like with Murray. When two-time Super Bowl champion Damien Woody was asked on ESPN’s “Get Up” who he thinks wins the Vikings’ QB battle, he said:
“I think this is spelling the end for J.J. McCarthy,” Woody said. “Kyler Murray did not sign with Minnesota to be anyone’s backup. I think Kyler Murray’s talent and the infrastructure around him, is going to allow him to excel.”
“If you’re Minnesota, do you want the same thing that happened with Sam Darnold playing in Minnesota?” Woody added. “And I know that Murray has no trade clause or no franchise clause in his contract, but like, there is no way if Murray goes out there and rips it up that you’re going to let him out of that building. There is absolutely no way.”
Woody’s comments aligns with how the situation feels right now. This is not one where a young guy just needs time, and everyone is okay waiting. The Vikings have a roster ready to compete for the Super Bowl, and at this point, they will be willing to sacrifice their investment in McCarthy if Murray is able to lead the team to the promised land.
