J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
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(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Vikings will hold a QB competition to determine not only their Week 1 starting QB, but also the pecking order of their QB depth chart, as Carson Wentz, J.J. McCarthy, and Kyler Murray.
Nonetheless, many expect Murray to win this competition, and there’s even the possibility that McCarthy falls to QB3 if Wentz is healthy and performs like he did last season before suffering his season-ending injury to his non-throwing shoulder.
With the NFL Draft right around the corner on April 23, could the Vikings receive a call on McCarthy to see if they are open to dealing him and giving him a fresh start somewhere else?
FOX Sports NFL columnist and reporter Ralph Vacchiano believes there’s a possibility and names the Los Angeles Rams as a potential trade destination for McCarthy.In his column published on April 8, Vacchiano notes that the Rams’ second-round pick (61st overall) could be what it takes to land McCarthy to back up Matthew Stafford.
“The Vikings sure look like they’ve moved on from the former 10th overall pick (2024) by signing Kyler Murray,” Vacchiano wrote. “Given Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell’s success rate with QBs, maybe that’s a red flag for the rest of the NFL. But McCarthy is still young and has only 10 games of experience. He could benefit from learning under McVay on a loaded offensive team.
“And not only do the Rams need to start thinking about who their quarterback will be after 38-year-old Matthew Stafford is done, they have to be prepared if he breaks down this season. Right now their backup is Stetson Bennett. McCarthy would at least be an upgrade over that. And that’s important for an expected Super Bowl contender.”
Kyler Murray Gets Clear Message to Win Starting Job
Although Murray is the favorite to win the Vikings’ starting job, former NFL edge rusher Chris Long shared what Murray needs to improve once the battle begins to ensure the former No. 1 pick comes out on top and is starting for the Vikings in Week 1.
“When I watch him play, and I watch every single snap of him throwing the ball last year, and as you know, I watch a ton of games, he doesn’t see the field that well late in downs,” Long said on theMarch 25 edition of “Green Light with Chris Long.”
“That’s one of the things he needs to improve. Listen, I love the mobility he brings to the table, but he has to be better at seeing the field late in downs. If you’re just relying on your vision, it hasn’t been great so far. I don’t think it’s all 5-foot-10. I think it’s just how certain people see the field.”
Vikings Announce J.J. McCarthy Update Before QB Battle
After a rollercoaster 2025 season, the Vikings are forcing McCarthy to earn the job, and Kevin Seifert of ESPN shared what head coach Kevin O’Connell said regarding the latest on the young QB’s efforts to do just that.
“Kevin O’Connell said that J.J. McCarthy is back in Minnesota after spending the early part of the offseason training in California, and has been in the building most days working out in the weight room,”Seifert wrote on March 30 on X.