After a 9-8 season marred by suboptimal quarterback play, the Minnesota Vikings got aggressive in their approach in 2026.
The Vikings added former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray in free agency to compete with former tenth overall pick J.J. McCarthy, but ESPN analyst and former NFL executive Louis Riddick thinks the battle is already over.
“Kyler is not some gadget quarterback…the dude can deal from the pocket,” Riddick said to KTSP’s Darren Wolfson. “I think Kevin O’Connell has already said ‘He fits our offense better than people give him credit for.’”
“Then of course, sitting here in the background, is this guy who we traded up to No.10 for who is now sitting going, ‘Where do I fit into all of this?’ That’s why I’m saying there’s a lot to unpack in Minnesota this year,” Reddick continued.
“I like the Kyler Murray acquisition…Unfortunatly for J.J., as much as I like him and I’ve been a big supporter, if this goes the way in which I’m sure Kevin [O’Connell] envisions it going, I think this spells the end for J.J. in Minnesota.”
Are the Minnesota Vikings Already Looking to Move On from J.J. McCarthy?
McCarthy went 6-4 as a starter in 2025, but his raw numbers ranked near the bottom of the league in most areas. His 57.6 completion percentage and 12 interceptions over just 10 games didn’t give the Vikings much confidence to hand him the keys outright, and Murray will now provide some insurance in 2026.
For Murray, it’s a chance to revitalize his career after falling out of favor in the desert. His one-year deal in Minnesota will either give him an opportunity to sign a long term deal with the Vikings, or to cash in elsewhere. That is, assuming Reddick is right and Murray wins the starting job this year. McCarthy has reportedly been training hard this offseason, and surely won’t go down without a fight.
Minnesota Needs a lot to Go Right in the 2026 NFL Draft
While quarterback has some drama, the Vikings also have plenty of other positions to address in the draft. With needs at defensive tackle, center, receiver and in the secondary, Minnesota will look to find a few starters in the early rounds to fill out a roster that has been neglected from years of poor drafting.
The Vikings hold four top-100 picks, and will have interim general manager Rob Brzezinski running the show. Still, the Vikings haven’t tipped their hand one way or the other on how they might approach using those high selections. The most popular player getting mocked to the Vikings is Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman, but Minnesota could go with the best player available at No. 18.
One name that might not be an immediate need, but would likely be the best player available is tight end Kenyon Sadiq, who recently wrapped up a top-30 visit with Minnesota. The Vikings still have T.J. Hockenson under contract, but his mediocre play could push Minnesota to take a risk on the athletic, but raw, Sadiq. Time will tell how the Vikings approach their crucial draft.
Former NFL Executive Sees a Clear Winner in the Vikings QB Battle