ESPN Keeps Hope Alive for J.J. McCarthy

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy faces a very pivotal year in 2026, his third season as a pro after Minnesota drafted him as the franchise quarterback solution in 2024. The club also has Kyler Murray in the mix to compete with McCarthy for the top job this summer, so much so that some have wondered if McCarthy has played his last game in Minnesota as a starter.

According to ESPN, McCarthy has done no such thing — and he might even win the battle over Murray.

Vikings QB Competition Has Room for a McCarthy Surge

Dan Graziano: Don’t Rule McCarthy Out Just Yet

Graziano of ESPN sized up hot takes around the NFL this week, evaluating whether they were overreactions. Along the way, he chimed in on McCarthy’s future.

“J.J. McCarthy has started his last game for the Vikings. Verdict: OVERREACTION. McCarthy could prove to be the better option in camp. If that happens, the players on the roster will see that and buy into the decision. You could make the case that the best outcome for the Vikings is for McCarthy to win the job and become the player they thought he could be when they moved up to draft him,” Graziano opined.

“But even if that doesn’t happen in camp, Murray is far from a perfect solution, which is why the Cardinals are paying him $36 million this year to play for someone else. If McCarthy reacts to being thrust into a competition the way the Vikings hope he does, he could end up starting games for them this season.”

The Vikings have not had a genuine quarterback battle in a long time; the stage is set for July and August.

Graziano continued, “He’s also under contract for 2026, whereas Murray is not (and Murray’s contract includes a no-franchise tag provision). Sure, it’s possible Murray thrives in O’Connell’s offense while McCarthy crumbles.”

“But either outcome is far from a sure thing. There’s a long way to go before the start of the 2026 season, let alone the end of it. And on some level at least, the Vikings hope there’s still a long way to go in McCarthy’s NFL story.”

Some Momentum in the Battle?

When the very first week of OTAs got underway, McCarthy turned heads with comments that some perceived as bizarre. He said welcoming Murray into the mix felt like a high school situation, while Murray offered a more diplomatic reply to the same question.

Thereafter, when action actually translated to the field, McCarthy and Murray traded productive outings, with McCarthy even gaining momentum in a battle that most assume Murray will win. Murray threw some interceptions, and McCarthy looked sturdier.

It’s the cycle of a quarterback competition — ups and downs — and go-time at training camp is about five weeks away. Murray remains the frontrunner, but McCarthy isn’t a chump.

Teammates Believe in McCarthy

Vikings right tackle O’Neill said about McCarthy in early May, “Even through some of the low points, I mean, we were 4-8 at one point last year. We rattled off five straight. Like, guys believe in him, and guys wanted us to figure it out and be better as an offense. You hear the term ‘lose the locker room.’ He had the locker room more than anybody I’d seen ever.”

“You want to root for him. You want to do well, and you want him to keep taking those next steps. If I was judged after my first 10 games in the NFL, I’m not playing right now. There’s a part of it where he’s still so fresh, and he’s only going to continue to get better. The whole attitude from us was, ‘How do we go there as an offense together?’”

McCarthy’s former teammate, Adam Thielen, echoed the sentiment, saying a few weeks ago, “He’s got all the traits to be a successful quarterback in this league. He has the skills. He has the strong arm. He has the mindset that not a lot of guys have, has this dog mentality that everyone wants to find. So, I love those two aspects of him. I think he’s a guy who loves football; he loves his teammates.”

“You feel that in the locker room with him. Now, was there some things that he needs to work on? Yes. Absolutely. He knows that. And I think he’s gone to the drawing board this offseason, I think he’s taken feedback from coach O’Connell, and coach, I think, was very candid with him of ‘This is what you need to improve on.’”

O’Neill and Thielen wouldn’t make that stuff up. As much as possible in a quarterback battle, McCarthy has the support of his teammates.

Besting Murray Still a Daunting Task

In the end, let’s face it: Murray has more experience, and he didn’t sign with the Vikings to play backup quarterback. ESPN can remain hopeful about McCarthy, and that’s fine, but Murray will likely be the Week 1 starter.

A more realistic best-case scenario is for McCarthy to shine if Murray gets hurt — which happens to Murray. The former Cardinal has missed about one-quarter of his career starts; there’s no reason to believe he’d suddenly become durable and healthy in Minnesota.

When that time comes, McCarthy will have his big moment. Theoretically, he could ball out, and the Vikings’ original draft plan from 2024 would just be on track.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker