The Minnesota Vikings haven’t been particularly busy this offseason, but the moves they have made have been quite important. Easily the biggest addition of the bunch is quarterback Kyler Murray, who is set to compete with J.J. McCarthy for the starting job after he labored through a rough 2025 campaign.
With solid quarterback play, it’s not a stretch to say that Minnesota could be a playoff contender in 2026. If there’s anyone who understands how important the play of a quarterback can be, it’s legendary wide receiver Cris Carter. In an interview with casino.us, Carter provided Heavy on Vikings some exclusive comments on Minnesota’s quarterback situation and what he is expecting from this team once it returns to action next season.
Cris Carter Believes Kyler Murray Will Start Over J.J. McCarthy
From 1993 to 2000, Carter rattled off eight straight Pro Bowl campaigns, which helped solidify his Hall of Fame case. During that stretch, Carter caught passes from guys like Warren Moon, Brad Johnson, Randall Cunningham, and Dante Culpepper. While he was individually excellent as a pass catcher in his own right, it didn’t mean anything if his quarterbacks couldn’t get him the ball.
That was what Minnesota experienced last year with McCarthy under center, and considering how talented the rest of the roster is, the team can’t afford to wait for the former first-round pick to grow into the role of the team’s starting quarterback. That led to Murray’s arrival, and while the team is billing him and McCarthy as competitors for the starting job, Carter believes the 2019 No. 1 overall pick will find himself under center come Week 1.
“Kevin O’Connell has proven with this offense when he’s had a healthy QB, he’s been able to win 12, 13, 14 games during the regular season,” Carter said to Heavy on Vikings. “J.J. McCarthy, he’s still going to get an opportunity because most quarterbacks aren’t going to stay healthy for 17 games, so there will be an opportunity for him not only to learn and get better, but also to watch and learn from a guy like Kyler Murray … But I’d expect Kyler to be the starter this season.”
The Vikings’ inability to find an answer at quarterback last year had an impact on the entire offense, but the guy who may have been impacted the most was star wide receiver Justin Jefferson. While Jefferson put up strong numbers (84 REC, 1,048 YDS, 2 TD), it is widely regarded as the worst year of his career. And yet, with Murray presumably taking over at quarterback, Carter envisions a bounce-back campaign for Jefferson in 2026.
“Sometimes your career is at the hands of the people around you, and football is the ultimate team sport,” Carter admitted. “Jefferson is doing great things on and off the field from a leadership standpoint, but you can believe that he’ll be right back at the top of the NFL with a veteran combination, with someone like Kyler. I’m sure they’ll spend some time together this offseason.”
Cris Carter Has High Hopes for Vikings in 2026
GettySIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA – SEPTEMBER 13: Former NFL Player and Pro Football Hall Of Fame member Cris Carter looks on during the second round of the Sanford International 2025 at Minnehaha Country Club on September 13, 2025 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. (Photo by Steven Garcia/Getty Images)
Even with the aforementioned quarterback woes, the Vikings finished the 2025 campaign with a 9-8 record, indicating they aren’t as far away from being a playoff contender as they may seem. While playing in the wildly competitive NFC North division certainly doesn’t help them, Carter thinks a return to the playoffs could be in the team’s future when it returns to action next year.
“If you look at the nucleus of players they do have coming back … you’d have to be looking at the Vikings to be back in the playoffs and competing for the NFC,” Carter said. “Their offensive and defensive lines are more fortified than they were 2 years ago; they just need consistent quarterback play and the ability to allow that defense to be able to turn the ball over and get after the quarterback.”
Minnesota still has work to do this offseason, as the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft looms large when it comes to its ability to add young talent on cheap rookie contracts. But if the Vikings can’t get their quarterback situation sorted out, chances are another frustrating campaign lies ahead of them, which is why this position is receiving so much attention this offseason.
Exclusive: Cris Carter Gets Brutally Honest on Vikings’ Quarterback Situation