J.J. McCarthy of the Minnesota Vikings.
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Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is being warned that he'll have competition for starter as Kyler Murray visits Minnesota.
The Minnesota Vikings and quarterback J.J. McCarthy had high hopes for a solid relationship, but the NFL can be unyielding, and on Thursday, March 12, quarterback free agent Kyler Murray set foot in Minnesota to meet with the team.
In a post on X on Wednesday evening, John Gambadoro of 98.7 FM in Phoenix reported, “A starting spot is a priority, and Minnesota does offer that and a deal could be done in the next 24 hours.” He added, “But, Murray and his camp are expected to explore several options as a backup in 2026 for teams that could need a starting quarterback in 2027 over the next 24 hours.”
So, if Murray comes to Minnesota, is McCarthy going to compete against him for the starting position with the Vikings? NFL insider Tom Pelissero had a definitive answer to that question during an appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show” on Thursday, March 12.
J.J. McCarthy vs. Kyler Murray for the Minnesota Vikings
Murray is available for just $1.3 million for 2026, according to research from Spotrac, which makes him a steal, but that’s not the only reason the Minnesota Vikings are interested in him. Murray won the 2018 Heisman Trophy as an Oklahoma Sooners quarterback, so he has talent and skill.
During an appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show” on Thursday, Pelissero flat-out said that Murray and McCarthy will compete for the starting slot. “He’ll be in a competition with J.J. McCarthy for the job,” Pelissero said. “It’s an experiment of sorts, because he’ll be playing in a different offense than he has in his entire career, but Kevin O’Connell has done tremendous work reviving some quarterbacks,” including Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold.
“Maybe the Vikings find their franchise quarterback for years to come,” he added. “If it doesn’t work out that way, maybe J.J. McCarthy beats him out and Kyler is a backup or ends up getting cut lose and goes somewhere else.”
Either way you slice it, there’s going to be a heated competition in Minnesota for the starting quarterback role for the 2026-27 season.
Kyler Murray One of the Top Remaining Quarterbacks in NFL Free Agency
Murray is ranked No. 40 on The Athletic’s tally of the top 150 free agents of 2026. He’s the third-best quarterback available, according to their research.
Murray, 28, holds a record of 38-48-1 as the Arizona Cardinals‘ starting quarterback, according to NFL research. He made Pro Bowls in 2020 and 2021. In 2024, he surpassed 3,000 passing yards for the fourth time. For the 2025-26 season, Murray only appeared in five games due to a foot injury, but that’s not likely to scare the Vikings away.
Matt Bowen of ESPN has Murray listed as the No. 2 best remaining free agent for the 2026 season. “When healthy, Murray has the talent to produce in a system that maximizes his dual-threat ability, and he should draw strong interest as a free agent,” he states in his feature. “In seven seasons with Arizona, he threw for 121 touchdowns and rushed for 3,193 yards.”
But, Nate Davis of USA Today warns that while “Murray’s talent has never been in question,” his “durability and work ethic have been at issue during his career, and his play plateaued even though former coach Kliff Kingsbury’s offense was supposed to optimize Murray’s abilities.” Davis adds that he believes Murray’s “days as a starter could be numbered.”