After injuries and uneven quarterback play disrupted their 2025 season, the Minnesota Vikings chose not to rely on a single option. So, earlier this offseason, the Vikings added quarterback Kyler Murray on a veteran minimum contract, giving themselves an experienced competitor to J.J. McCarthy.
Beyond serving as insurance, Murray also gives the Purple and Gold a higher ceiling if he returns to his best form. Many believe he would come out on top in the Vikings’ quarterback battle, but former NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick does not expect Murray to become Minnesota’s long-term answer despite liking the fit for the upcoming season.
Ryan Fitzpatrick Feels Kyler Murray’s Future With the Vikings Will Be Short but “Great”
Speaking on “The Rich Eisen Show,” Fitzpatrick explained why he believes the partnership could have a short shelf life.
“I don’t think that one’s a quarterback competition. Kyler Murray should be the quarterback from day one there,” he said. “I’m really excited to see Kyler Murray in Minnesota. I do think it’ll be a one-year, great experiment. It’s going to work great and then potentially tail off after that. But I’m excited to see how it goes this season.”
Murray entered free agency after the Arizona Cardinals decided to move on at the beginning of the offseason. The 28-year-old spent seven seasons in Arizona but reached the playoffs only once.
Although he showed elite athletic ability at times, he never fully established himself as the long-term franchise quarterback for The Red Sea. Because of that, Murray left Arizona with plenty of unanswered questions.
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Injuries also shaped the final stretch of his Cardinals career, including a torn ACL in 2022 and a foot injury that held him to just five games in 2025. Even though he completed 68.3% of his passes during that stretch, durability remains the biggest concern as the Vikings hope his fresh start delivers immediate value.
On the other hand, after missing his entire first season because of injury, McCarthy finally took over in 2025 but struggled to lock down the job. Another injury-filled year limited him to only 10 starts. During that stretch, he only completed 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
According to PFN’s QB Impact Metric, McCarthy posted an impact score of 67.0 last season, ranking fifth-worst in the league.
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As a result, many around the league expected Murray to become Minnesota’s starting quarterback to start the season.
Still, Fitzpatrick believes the bigger picture matters more than the opening lineup. While he expects Murray to provide an immediate boost, he also warned that the veteran is unlikely to remain the long-term answer.
“I think his best year with Minnesota will be his first year, and if they keep him after that, then it’s going to trail off because some of the issues that came up in Arizona are going to be the same issues that follow him,” he added.
That makes Minnesota’s next move even more important. They have to make sure that McCarthy continues to get better behind the scenes, so that even if Murray failys to play well consistently, the Michigan product can come in to replace him.
With the Skol faithful still waiting for the franchise’s first playoff win since the 2019 season, the timing of any quarterback switch could shape their future.
