Ty Simpson, Miami Dolphins
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(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Vikings are having a three-way QB battle between J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Kyler Murray. Moreover, at the very least, the Vikings are giving themselves options to avoid another season in which underwhelming QB play keeps them out of the playoffs.
It will be interesting to see how McCarthy approaches this battle and whether he elevates his game to beat out two players with starting experience. Additionally, there’s the possibilty that the former Top 10 pick in 2024 doesn’t step up and falls to QB2 or even QB3.
Nonetheless, could the Vikings also be doing their homework on a signal-caller in this year’s draft? Former NFL player Chase Daniel believes that Minnesota would make sense for former Alabama Crimson Tide QB Ty Simpson.
“I think J.J. McCarthy’s days with the Vikings are done,”Daniel said in a video posted on March 20. “I do. And so that’s why I think you have to entertain, that’s why I think you have to entertain Ty Simpson. You’re not sure what Kyler’s going to do. It’s a one-year deal, $1.3 million.
“I just think if Ty can go to [Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connel], and there’s a lot of things that can happen, but with that offense, like, come on, man, you know, like, a lot of answers, bro. A lot of answers.”
Simpson had a passer rating of 145.2 with 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and five interceptions in 15 games in 2025 for the Crimson Tide,per StatMuse.
Chase Daniel Doesn’t Hold Back on Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy
Furthermore, Daniels went into detail about why he believes McCarthy’s days in Minnesota are numbered, with Murray’s arrival and now Carson Wentz also in the fold.
“I think J. J. McCarthy’s days with the Minnesota Vikingsare done,” Daniel added. “You don’t sign there to be a backup. J.J.’s done there. No, here’s my thing. Here’s my take on the whole KOC–Kyler Murray situation.
“The second that Kyler Murray signed with KOC, in my opinion, J.J.’s done there. They’re not giving J.J. a chance to win it. It would surprise me very much. You don’t sign there to be a backup to J.J. McCarthy.”
Is Kyler Murray the Favorite to Win Minnesota’s Starting QB Job?
Moreover, Alec Lewis of The Athletic shared that he’s spoken with people around the league, and they also believe Murray will be the Vikings’ starter. Lewis also painted a brutal reality check for McCarthy and his prospects of winning this battle.
“You talk to people in the league, and they’re like, it is a little silly,”Lewis said on the March 18 edition of “The Alec Lewis Show.” “There’s a guy who’s played seven years and thrown for 3,500 yards four times, a guy as dynamic as he is, who chose theMinnesota Vikings over other opportunities. You’re not doing that if you’re not the starting quarterback.
“It would take something beyond drastic for J.J. to come out and win the job, which isn’t a referendum on J.J. or where he is. He has shown the high-end flashes. It’s just going to be about consistency, and it will be really interesting to see what he looks like fundamentally.”