The Kyler Murray vs. J.J. McCarthy Debate Is Getting Carried Away

Brad Rempel

Two years ago, the Minnesota Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy in the first round, hoping that they could reset their quarterback position. Not only did he get hurt immediately, but he also flopped in year two when given the reins to a starting job.

Not willing to make the same mistakes again, the Vikings lucked out by having Kyler Murray fall right into their laps. With the Arizona Cardinals paying the freight for his contract, Minnesota is on the hook for just $1.3 million. Despite his established track record, Murray won’t just be crowned the next greatest thing in purple.

The Vikings’ QB Reality Is Hard to Ignore

While that’s a fair path to take, the idea that McCarthy will force a real competition seems laughable. It would be foolish to think the former Michigan product hasn’t taken steps forward from a development perspective this offseason. If he learned nothing from falling flat last season, that would be a true problem and something truly scary to think about moving forward.

Oct 3, 2021; Inglewood, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) walks off the field after the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Rams 37-20. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

On the flip side, it’s wild to think that someone coming in with the baseline that McCarthy has will be able to do anything that pushes Murray down the depth chart. Every talking head under the sun is pushing the narrative that the Vikings will have a true competition. There’s no benefit for Kevin O’Connell or the franchise to come out and thwart the dreams of their young signal caller. We can also have a greater sense of reality.