Former NFLer, Now on ESPN, Predicts Grim Fate for J.J. McCarthy

Woody on McCarthy

Woody is low on McCarthy. Plain and simple. He said on ESPN airwaves this week, “I think this is spelling the end for J.J. McCarthy. Kyler Murray did not sign with Minnesota to be anyone’s backup. I think Kyler Murray’s talent and the infrastructure around him, is going to allow him to excel. If you’re Minnesota, do you want the same thing that happened with Sam Darnold playing in Minnesota?”

“And I know that Murray has no trade clause or no franchise clause in his contract, but like, there is no way if Murray goes out there and rips it up that you’re going to let him out of that building. There is absolutely no way.”

Takes like that are quite common at the moment.

A Terrible Offseason on Paper

If one ranked offseasons for McCarthy through his three in the NFL, the 2026 version is, by far, the worst:

1. The guy who drafted him, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, got fired. The Vikings’ owners gave themselves an “out” on McCarthy, now able to say through their actions, “Hey, the guy who picked McCarthy doesn’t work here anymore.”
2. Minnesota signed Murray, who isn’t about to take a backseat as a QB2 to McCarthy or anybody, really.
3. The Vikings then signed Carson Wentz, and he probably has big plans to compete for the QB2 job, too.
4. Justin Jefferson publicly challenged his quarterback this week to step up this summer. When the team’s best player does that, you know things aren’t going perfectly.

Last offseason, McCarthy glided to the QB1 post after Minnesota refused to re-sign Sam Darnold. This offseason is the opposite.

A Chance to Duel Murray

Are you still high on McCarthy? Great — his story in Minnesota isn’t fully written. A quarterback battle will be advertised for training camp, and if that’s a legitimate competition, there’s nothing to stop McCarthy from winning it. Always remember: the Vikings’ best-case scenario, even better than Murray balling out, is McCarthy arriving in 2026 and playing too well to keep off the field.

It will make the 2024 draft plan look logical, and at age 23, McCarthy still has 15 years in the pros ahead of him if he has the stomach for it.

Unfortunately for his sake, Murray will be tough to topple. Coming out of college in 2019, Murray’s skill set superseded McCarthy’s in 2024 — in every way. McCarthy is taller than Murray, but that’s about it for advantages.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) shares a pregame moment with head coach Kevin O’Connell, embracing on the field on Dec. 21, 2025, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford as the team prepared for kickoff, highlighting the growing connection between the young quarterback and his head coach. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images.

The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis mentioned this week, “Even though Murray has made 87 career starts (compared to McCarthy’s 10), Minnesota still plans to hold a quarterback competition during the summer and early fall. Most executives, scouts and coaches throughout the NFL expect Murray to win the job.”

“Still, Jefferson didn’t offer any clues Monday. He also didn’t plant his flag on either player, opting instead to praise both. Jefferson remains central to Minnesota’s offensive plan. The team believes his standard will lift the quarterback room, and that the quarterback room’s ascent will have a positive impact on the entire team.”

Remember the Darnold and Mayfield Lessons

Moreover, if Murray puts a stranglehold on the QB1 job, disallowing McCarthy from taking it back, McCarthy can still plot next steps elsewhere. In this scenario, Murray would pop off as the Vikings’ long-term signal-caller, and recognizing there’s no room for McCarthy anymore, Minnesota could trade him next offseason for a draft pick.

Then, if one recalls the trajectories of Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield, McCarthy can embark on that same path, so long as his mechanics have improved.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) goes through warmups, loosening his arm and preparing for action on Aug. 9, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis before a preseason matchup against the Houston Texans, as he continued his development within Minnesota’s offensive system. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.

Others, too, provide sound examples. Malik Willis will get another starting audition in Miami this September. Mac Jones is probably one year away from following suit. McCarthy’s stock may be low in Minnesota as the offseason wears on, but he can look forward to at least one more chance down the road.

Nobody anywhere thought Darnold would amount to much after he flamed out of Carolina. Now, he’s a Super Bowl champion.