Former Viking GM Reacts to New Vikings GM Hire

New Vikings General Manager Nolan Teasley was asked at his introductory press conference Wednesday about his impressions of Vikings quarterbacks Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy and his plans for managing the critical QB position.

In a diplomatic answer typical of his general tone, Teasley said, “In terms of managing it, we’re going to rely on the coaching staff. I think the goal from the offseason was to build a deep and competitive quarterback room, and I think that was executed.”

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Nothing more on whether he believes Murray or McCarthy can become a franchise QB capable of winning a Super Bowl in Minnesota while playing at the level expected of top 10 picks, which both of them were (with Murray the No. 1 overall pick in 2019).

Despite the general feeling expressed by national and local media that Murray will be the opening-day and season-long starter barring injury, Teasley wisely isn’t tipping his hand publicly about how he expects the QB competition to play out. And O’Connell will continue to say it’s an “open competition” until he names a starter midway through training camp.

As a 14-year Seattle front office veteran in the scouting/personnel departments and the Seahawks’ assistant GM in recent years, Teasley knows how injuries and possible subpar play can quickly change the dynamic of who is running the offense.

He saw Murray twice a year when the Seahawks played the Cardinals in the NFC West and is well aware of Murray’s positive NFL history as the 2019 Offensive Rookie of the Year and a two-time Pro Bowler (2020 and 2021), with an impressive 67.1% career completion rate and a solid 92.2 passer rating.

He also sees Murray’s 38-49-1 career record as the Arizona starter, which includes only one playoff game (a wild-card loss to the Rams in the 2021 season). And there’s Murray’s injury history: 12 games missed last season with a foot injury, and a torn ACL in 2022 that cost him the last six games that season and the first nine games in 2023. His smaller stature and willingness to run with his great quickness and speed are factors in his lack of durability, but he also did not have as good a supporting cast on offense with the Cardinals as he will with the Vikings (starting with O’Connell and Justin Jefferson). 

Teasley also scouted McCarthy before the 2024 draft and watched his performance in his 10 starts last season. While the national media regularly proclaims McCarthy as a lousy quarterback in 2025, the reality — which Teasley understands — is J.J. has only 10 career starts with a 6-4 record, and while his overall passer rating was a dismal 72.6 with a lackluster 57.6 % completion rate, he won his last four starts with his passer rating and completion percentage much improved at 100.4 and 64%.

But McCarthy also left the last two games with a hand injury and has a significant injury history for a young player, with a knee injury that knocked him out for his entire rookie season and a sprained ankle and a concussion costing him seven games last year.

Teasley saw the rise of Russell Wilson to a Super Bowl and Pro Bowl QB in Seattle and then his trade by GM John Schneider to Denver when Wilson’s skills began to decline, followed by Geno Smith taking over for several seasons and then getting traded to the Raiders as Sam Darnold supplanted him in a Super Bowl season.

So Teasley knows it’s often a fluid situation with the No. 1 QB role. Teasley made it clear that Kevin O’Connell will decide who starts at all positions, but Teasley will certainly take on equal weight with O’Connell as the drivers on if Murray is signed in 2027 to a lucrative deal or if McCarthy is ready to ascend to the top spot next year as he enters his fourth season or if the Vikings seek a new QB from a reputedly excellent 2027 QB draft class.       

In my years as a team exec with the Vikings and Titans, I was fortunate that there were only a handful of seasons when we didn’t have an obvious starting QB — from Fran Tarkenton and then Tommy Kramer at the Vikings early in my career to Steve McNair in my final years with the Titans (and both Tarkenton and McNair earning league MVPs at one time).

As the team works through OTAs and next week’s minicamp, we can expect Murray and McCarthy to continue sharing first-team reps, with Murray likely taking the first rep. 

As Teasley and O’Connell know well, it’s fine to think Murray is the likely September 13 starter against the Packers, but they aren’t presuming he’ll start all 17 regular-season games plus any possible playoffs. I believe — and I’ll bet Teasley and O’Connell agree — given both Murray and McCarthy’s injury histories, it’s more likely each of them will be counted on as the starter for a playoff-worthy team at various points in the upcoming season.

Around the NFL: Observations in a wild week of blockbuster trades

1. Myles Garrett to the Rams — yikes! The Rams have to be considered the Super Bowl favorite after trading for last season’s Defensive Player of the Year and sack leader (with an NFL-record 23 sacks). It was an expensive proposition for L.A. to send the Browns young Pro Bowl edge/DE Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-rounder, and a 2029 third-rounder for the 30-year-old Garrett.

I think it’s a win-win for both teams, depending on whether Garrett can continue to play at an elite level for three more years and how well Verse plays, along with the quality of players the Browns get out of the three draft picks (that will likely be at the end of the rounds, with the Rams expected to be a final four team each year).

2. A.J. Brown to the Patriots: It was obvious Brown had worn out his welcome after four 1,000-plus-yard receiving seasons in Philly. The Eagles will miss his production unless first-round rookie Makai Lemon develops quickly. But it was well done by Eagles GM Howie Roseman to get a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder when it was obvious Brown was going to be traded.

The defending AFC champion Patriots are acquiring a No. 1 receiver for QB Drake Maye in the soon-to-turn-29-year-old Brown, who reunites with Pats coach Mike Vrabel (Brown’s head coach in his early years in Tennessee). If Brown is focused and plays well, I give New England a slight edge in the deal.

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