Can Kyler Murray be the Next Darnold for Vikings but with Better Finish? Plus Training Camp Observations

The big news this week that Kyler Murray has been named the Vikings starting quarterback was certainly no surprise. Anyone watching training camp practices over the past week or so—including the Sunday night TCO Stadium practice—could see Murray getting about twice as many first-team reps compared to J.J. McCarthy.

Both QBs have struggled at times against the Vikings tough defense with their exotic looks and blitzes. In winning the starting job, Murray has showed enough grasp of Kevin O’Connell’s complex offense and general accuracy that has been his forte along with elite scrambling over his seven seasons in Arizona.

It was encouraging for the team to see Murray have perhaps his best camp practice on Tuesday as he completed 15 of 16 passes in 7 on 7 and 11 on 11 drills, including big plays to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison and check downs when dictated by coverage and pass rush. Murray had another good day on Wednesday with long completions to Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson in team drills. He showed his speed on a rollout run.

Now it’s about stacking more good practice days against Brian Flores’ D, having a decent showing in a series or two in the Saturday afternoon preseason opener at the Giants and then performing well in the important two days of joint practices next week with the Ravens.

On Kyler Murray as the Vikings’ QB1

Of course what truly matters is how well Murray plays in the regular season opener on September 13 against the rival Packers and thereafter.

Can Murray duplicate what Sam Darnold did in the 2024 season in leading the Vikings to the playoffs (they hope with a division title and a home playoff game)? And most of all can he then win in the playoffs which Darnold was unable to accomplish with his poor play in the wild card loss to the Rams (which followed a terrible game for Darnold with the NFC North title on the line at Detroit)?

Murray has the best supporting cast of his career to work with on offense but it was concerning to see him have to scramble away from pressure on too many snaps in the Sunday night practice/scrimmage (especially against middle blitzes by Blake Cashman and Andrew Van Ginkel). But Murray didn’t have star left tackle Christian Darrisaw in that Sunday night practice (he had a maintenance night off) which makes a huge difference.

I like the two-time Pro Bowler Murray’s chances to play well this season and revive his career. He has to be smart about protecting himself when he’s forced to scramble or on designed running plays. His athletic ability that made him the first overall pick by the Cardinals in 2019 is obvious in watching him at camp practices.

I thought Murray handled the media session well after O’Connell announced him as the Week 1 starter (with McCarthy named the backup over Carson Wentz). Murray said he didn’t expect to be handed the starting job and that he was feeling more comfortable in the offense as camp progresses. He knows he has great skill players around him and that his job is to get them the ball and make plays with his legs when needed. It was good to hear many of his teammates speak highly of him after the starter news broke.  

Now Murray will get a lot more first-team reps as he fine tunes his understanding of the offense which will help him prepare for the regular season. And it’s good he’s going to play a few snaps in the preseason opener (but the O-line better protect him against some good Giants pass rushers led by All-Pro Brian Burns—if he plays).

As for McCarthy, he must bide his time and be ready if Murray gets hurt or underperforms. To his credit, McCarthy threw the ball well in team drills this week after the Murray announcement. We’ll see on his future.

Remember he’s only 23 years old and has started only 10 NFL games (with a 6-4 record and he won his last four starts including an impressive two week stretch last season with wins at home against Washington and at Dallas with 100-plus passer ratings in both games and he posted wins at Chicago and Detroit).

I think McCarthy has the talent to be a quality NFL QB. He just needs to be more accurate and quicker in his decision making on a consistent basis which is where Murray is going into his eighth NFL season with an impressive career completion mark of 67.1%.

Other Training Camp Observations from this Week’s Practices:

1. The Sunday night practice at TCO Stadium was physical with the defense dominating. Murray had to run away from pressure often and there were many would-be sacks if allowed on both Murray and McCarthy. Cashman and Van Ginkel stood out with their timely blitzes and Dallas Turner pressured from the right edge with Darrisaw held out.

There was a nice TD pass from Murray to Addison in a goal line drill, a couple long completions from McCarthy to Tai Felton, and some good runs by Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason and rookie Demond Claiborne. But overall, the defense won the night.

Rookie linebacker Jake Golday was impressive and corners Isaiah Rodgers and James Pierre picked off Murray.

2. I like the Vikings running back depth. Jones is 31 but still moves well as a dual purpose rusher and receiving back. Mason led the team in rushing last season when Jones missed several games. Mason looks quicker after losing some weight and showed great burst on a long run in an 11 on 11 drill Wednesday. Zavier Scott played well in his limited snaps last year and he looks good.

Claiborne is the team’s fastest back. He could be a sixth round steal. He’s dropped a few passes in camp but has several explosive runs. I’m excited to watch him in the preseason games starting Saturday at the Giants when Jones and Mason will get limited snaps so Scott and Claiborne will get extended duty.

The offensive line, tight ends Hockenson and Josh Oliver, rookie fullback Max Bredeson, and wide receivers who are willing blockers look primed to lead a strong rushing attack to balance the offense and support Murray while setting up the passing game with play action. A key will be how well Blake Brandel plays at center.

3. In watching pass rush drills on Wednesday, Darrisaw did a good job on Dallas Turner and Donovan Jackson had a solid rep against Jalen Redmond who has been in the backfield often in camp practices.

First-round DT Caleb Banks showed his strength in stuffing the run in a team drill. Second-year D-lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins continued his fine camp with a good pass rush in a two-on-two drill.

Jamal Adams is back at safety after beginning camp at linebacker and he had a nice blitz in a team drill Wednesday which would’ve been a sack on McCarthy if QBs could be taken down (a no-no in camp practices). Rookie corner Chuck Demmings did a good job sticking with Jefferson and breaking up a pass on a Murray scramble.

4. It’s interesting to see Bredeson getting a lot of first-team reps. He’s obviously a smart player who has picked up the offense quickly and it appears he’ll have a significant role as a run blocker, outlet receiver, and key special teamer in his first season.

Jeff Diamond is a former Vikings GM, former Tennessee Titans President and was selected NFL Executive of the Year … More about Jeff Diamond