Two years ago, the Minnesota Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy in the first round, hoping to reset their quarterback position. But he not only suffered an immediate injury but also failed to deliver in his second season when handed the starting role. Determined not to repeat those mistakes, the Vikings got lucky when Kyler Murray unexpectedly became available. With the Arizona Cardinals covering most of his salary, Minnesota is only responsible for $1.3 million. Despite his established track record, Murray won’t simply be crowned the next great thing in purple.
The reality of the Vikings’ quarterback situation is hard to ignore. While it’s fair to give McCarthy a chance, the idea that he will force a real competition seems laughable. It would be foolish to think the former Michigan standout hasn’t made developmental strides this offseason. If he learned nothing from last season’s poor performance, that would be a genuine problem and a concerning thought for the future.
On the flip side, it’s wild to think someone with McCarthy’s baseline could push Murray down the depth chart. Every talking head under the sun is pushing the narrative of a real competition in Minnesota. There’s no benefit for Kevin O’Connell or the franchise to publicly dash the hopes of their young quarterback. But we can also embrace a greater sense of reality.
It’s not as though Murray is a world-beater despite his 87 starts. He does have a 67.1% career completion percentage, won Rookie of the Year, and earned two Pro Bowl selections. He has seen the mountaintop and shown his ability, even while playing for an organization that has often been a dumpster fire.
Now placed in a situation where he gets to work with Kevin O’Connell and an offense that arguably has the best wide receiver room in the league, Murray gets a new lease on life. Barring injury, there’s no legitimate way to convince yourself that McCarthy can win whatever competition is put in front of him.
The Vikings should continue telling the media the same story they have been telling. The media will keep pushing the narrative heard since Murray signed. Ultimately, though, it’s a veteran’s job to lose, and there’s no reason to believe that will happen.