Vikings reporter thinks Kyler Murray could make shocking decision after J.J. McCarthy competition

Reports throughout the spring suggested that 2024 first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy could ask the Minnesota Vikings for a trade if free-agency signing Kyler Murray wins the competition for the team’s starting quarterback job later this summer. 

Meanwhile, veteran Carson Wentz somewhat surprisingly re-signed with the Vikings this past March. On Wednesday, Vikings reporter Tyler Forness of A to Z Sports shared that there may be a scenario where Murray isn’t on Minnesota’s Week 1 roster.

Would Kyler Murray ask the Vikings for a trade later this summer?

“The quarterback room is less about who starts and more about what happens after that decision gets made,” Forness said about the Vikings. “Carson Wentz projects for me as the QB2 regardless of whether Murray or McCarthy wins the starting role. The loser of that competition likely ends up off the roster entirely. If Murray doesn’t win the job, he likely requests a trade because he’s playing for what is probably his final big contract. For McCarthy, losing the competition would essentially eliminate his chance of being the long-term answer in Minnesota.” 

Of course, it’s far too early to guess which teams could possibly be interested in acquiring Murray. Additionally, a recent report said that “Murray remains the favorite to win the starting job in training camp.” That would lead one to believe plenty would have to change during the preseason for Murray to request a trade before Labor Day arrives. 

Sam Darnold experience could lead to Vikings making this Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy call

“The structure here is intentional,” Forness added. “Keeping Wentz as the backup rather than the losing competitor removes the pressure of a starter constantly looking over his shoulder. That dynamic played a role in Sam Darnold’s success in 2024. Darnold never had someone breathing down his neck, and that mattered for his confidence and his play. Head coach Kevin O’Connell has talked about wanting to give the starting quarterback a long runway to be successful, and this is the likely path forward.”

In June, O’Connell hinted that the Murray-McCarthy competition could run through multiple preseason games. Both quarterbacks will first receive opportunities to impress against an opposing defense when Minnesota plays at the New York Giants on Aug. 15.