The Minnesota Vikings will have a QB battle to determine their starter once the 2026 NFL season gets underway. After signing former No. 1 pick Kyler Murray this offseason, all signs point to him being the favorite.
Nonetheless, Murray has to go out and earn it by beating out J.J. McCarthy and Carson Wentz. As for McCarthy, after his roller coaster 2025 season, he will need to go out and earn the starting job.
Moreover, the former Top 10 pick will need to have made improvements this offseason ahead of the QB battle. In a May 4 article, Alec Lewis of The Athletic shared the Vikings’ hopes for McCarthy as OTAs and the mandatory minicamp approach.
“The competition between Murray and McCarthy will dominate headlines over the next few months. Murray, who has made 87 career starts, is the clear favorite,” Lewis wrote.
“The Vikings are hoping McCarthy arrives with improved mechanics and increased touch — as well as heightened maturity in his third NFL season.”
J.J. McCarthy Gets Strong Advice Ahead of QB Battle
Ahead of the QB battle to determine the Vikings’ starter, QB guru and former NFL player John Beck shared his advice for McCarthy.
“He’s done a great job this offseason of putting his mind in the right frame and working the right way, focusing on the things he needs to improve,” Beck said on the April 21 edition of “The Rich Eisen Show.” “What J.J. needs to do is just focus on himself. They brought Kyler in, and who knows what’s going to happen?
“It’s going to be a storyline in Minnesota and around the league throughout the offseason, but he should let that be and concentrate on what he can control.
“J.J. takes pride in his mindset and his ability to manage emotions… Now he’s going to step out each day in practice, and he’ll be in a quarterback competition, and maybe they make Kyler the starter. All he’s going to focus on is being the very best J.J. he can be.”
Will the Vikings Truly Have an Open Competition?
During the 2025 season, McCarthy finished with a 61.8 overall PFF grade, ranking 35th out of 43 qualified quarterbacks. Moreover, the Vikings QB posted a passing grade of 60.1, which was also 35th at the position.
Across 291 dropbacks, he threw for 1,632 yards with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He logged 19 big-time throws alongside 15 turnover-worthy plays. On the ground, McCarthy added 156 scramble yards and four rushing touchdowns, finishing with a 71.6 rushing grade.
While many expect Murray to win the QB battle, Beck believes Minnesota will keep it open, given the amount of money they are paying Murray this season.
“They did not bring in a player and guarantee him $35 million to $40 million, which would have changed that situation,“ Beck added. “There is still expected to be an offseason competition, and what happens behind closed doors in those conversations remains to be seen.
“The focus for J.J. is to avoid getting caught up in any of that. He just needs to take whatever reps he gets in practice and do the best he can each day to improve.
“Good things tend to happen when the focus shifts away from outcomes and toward daily work. Instead of worrying about decisions being made for him, the priority is effort and preparation, allowing performance and natural instincts to take over.”
Vikings Insider Shares Clear Hopes for J.J. McCarthy Before QB Battle