While the Vikings have split reps between QB1 contenders Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy over the first week or so of training camp, ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reports that there have been “plenty of indications that Murray remains the heavy favorite to win the job.”
Throughout the spring and summer, both passers have worked with the first and second strings offenses, but in training camp, Murray has reportedly received about two-thirds of the first-team reps. That means the coaches have presented McCarthy with the challenge of leading the second-team offense against Minnesota’s first-team defense. As a result McCarthy has been forced to be a bit more conservative in his offensive approach, favoring short- to midrange throws in an effort to avoid mistakes while Murray has been able to be a bit more aggressive.
While Murray is the new man in town, the Vikings have McCarthy learning, too. Since head coach Kevin O’Connell took over in 2022, Minnesota has reportedly been the league’s third-heaviest under-center team, according to Seifert. He adds that, over Murray’s seven years in Arizona, the Cardinals were at the opposite end of the spectrum, going under center with the third-lowest frequency. The team has been moving away from the under-center approach in order to diversify their offensive attack.
Murray came to Minnesota at a low point of his career, but he displayed a lot of talent during his time with the Cardinals. Despite getting sacked a league-high 48 times his rookie season, he was named Offensive Rookie of the Year, and he earned invites to the Pro Bowl in his second and third seasons before injuries began to mar his campaigns. Murray could’ve been at risk of front office pressure to stick with the quarterback they drafted in McCarthy, but with the team changing general managers this offseason, Murray got to start with a fairly unbiased slate.
Per Seifert, Murray hasn’t been perfect in Minnesota, struggling early on as he has adjusted to his new surroundings. At no point, though, has Murray seemed uncomfortable or incapable of taking over the Vikings offense. As he changes teams for the first time in his young career, Murray has lived up to expectations. Now, Minnesota needs him to find his groove and secure the starting job with no questions as the season draws near.
After some shaky outings in what was effectively his rookie season, McCarthy has started to look a bit more settled in Year 3, even while incorporating more shotgun and pistol looks. Overall accuracy has still been a bit of a concern, though he’s starting to find his touch on some deep corner routes. The improvements are encouraging, but according to Seifert, McCarthy has not “made up the ground necessary to truly challenge Murray.”
The Vikings’ staff have enjoyed this offseason, installing a new offense with more diverse run looks that set up more play-action concepts for downfield throws. The new scheme serves double duty by alleviating some of the pressure on McCarthy’s shoulders by increasing the utility of Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason while also incorporating creative play-action looks that will benefit from Murray’s mobility and deep ball accuracy. It’s a diverse system that should give both quarterbacks opportunities to improve and excel.
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