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Kyler Murray’s free agency in March, and two months later, the NFL world believes he’ll take part in the league’s hottest quarterback competition this summer — a duel with J.J. McCarthy.
Minnesota’s QB room could become the league’s loudest training camp storyline.
That’s the word from SI.com this week, claiming Murray v. McCarthy will be must-see television.
Murray and McCarthy Set Up a Fascinating Summer Showdown
Who will take home the QB1 prize?
 rushes the ball against the Chicago Bears during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images</p>
<p>” data-large-file=”/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=787,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/USATSI_27036194.jpg” src=”http://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/USATSI_27036194.jpg” alt=”J.J. McCarthy runs with the football during a Vikings game against the Chicago Bears. Vikings quarterback competition”><figcaption>Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy scrambles with the football during first-half action against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. On Sep. 8, 2025, McCarthy continued displaying athleticism and pocket mobility for Minnesota’s offense while operating as the franchise’s young starting quarterback in an important NFC North divisional matchup on the road. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images.</figcaption></figure>
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<p><strong>SI.com: There’s No Bigger Roster Battle than Vikings QB1</strong></p>
<p>Eva Geitheim stepped up to the plate this week, sizing up the top questions for the NFL after the draft, and the Vikings’ quarterback situation made the cut.</p>
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She explained, “Who will start for the Vikings come Week 1? There will be several quarterback competitions across the league this offseason, but none will be bigger than that between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy. The Vikings could be a playoff contender with competent quarterback play, a key reason they brought Murray to Minnesota.”
“The competition could certainly go in Murray’s favor, as both coach Kevin O’Connell and receiver Justin Jefferson have spoken highly of the veteran quarterback while emphasizing the work McCarthy still has ahead of him.”
Geitheim also mentioned Aaron Rodgers’s will-I-or-won’t-I-play schtick, the Dianna Russini + Mike Vrabel fallout, and trades around the league, among other topics.
Overstating McCarthy’s Chances?
Indeed, McCarthy held the Vikings’ QB1 job in 2025, his second official season in the pros after a torn meniscus ravaged his rookie campaign. In that regard, he should have a solid chance to continue as the starting quarterback.
But that’s on paper.
McCarthy has mind-bogglingly become injury-prone, battling a torn meniscus, a high ankle sprain, a concussion, and a broken hand while starting just 10 games in two years. The man has been available for the Vikings 29% of the time since Minnesota used a 1st-Round draft pick on him.
Then, when healthy, McCarthy has struggled, ranking near the bottom of the NFL per quarterback efficiency and throwing more interceptions than touchdowns in 2025. McCarthy is certainly an option for the QB1 job, but Murray should be classified as the heavy frontrunner.
Murray with a Chip on His Shoulder
Murray will assuredly want to prove naysayers wrong in 2025, including the Arizona Cardinals, a franchise that left him for dead this offseason. For reputation’s sake, the Cardinals have one of the worst ownership groups in sports, and they didn’t want Murray. They cut him. The Cardinals would rather have Jacoby Brissett and Carson Beck than Murray.
 stands in the bench area during the second half of the game against the Washington Commanders at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images.</p>
<p>” data-large-file=”/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=688,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Kyler-Murray-2.jpg” src=”http://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Kyler-Murray-2.jpg” alt=”Kyler Murray stands near the Cardinals bench during a road game against Washington. Vikings quarterback competition”><figcaption>Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray stands near the bench during the second half of a road matchup against the Washington Commanders at FedExField. During the Sep. 10, 2023, contest in Landover, Murray remained sidelined while recovering from injury, continuing his rehabilitation process before eventually returning to Arizona’s starting lineup later that season. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images.</figcaption></figure>
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<p>So, you better believe Murray will have a chip on his shoulder, landing in a spot with the Vikings where he’ll play alongside a Top 3 NFL defense, weapons like Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, a quarterback-whispering head coach, and a team that finished 2025 with a winning record.</p>
<p>In short, Murray will be ultra-motivated this summer, autumn, and winter, and that won’t bode well for McCarthy’s chances to score the upset.</p>
<p><strong>Other QB Competition around the Business?</strong></p>
<p>The NFL will feature two true quarterback competitions later this summer, in addition to Murray-McCarthy.</p>
<p>First, the Cleveland Browns will have a “let the best man win” slugfest between Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and rookie Taylen Green. Most expect the Browns to give Watson one last look before trying something new.</p>
<p>The other battle is in Atlanta. Michael Penix Jr., the incumbent, will take on Tua Tagovailoa, with Kevin Stefanski as the new head coach and referee. Tagovailoa has markedly more experience and a history of upper-echelon production. Penix Jr. has youth on his side and relatively recent draft stock in 2024.</p>
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on the Falcons’ quarterback battle: “Michael Penix Jr. is the safe bet to win the job, if nothing else because the Falcons have invested so much more in him (a top-10 overall pick) compared to Tua Tagovailoa (one-year, $1.2 million). However, Tagovailoa has demonstrated a higher ceiling in the NFL and will likely be healthier come Week 1.”
“The answer to this question is probably a two-pronged approach. At the start of the regular season our best guess is that it will be Tagovailoa under center. However, once Penix is fully healthy Tua is going to have to impress on the field in a big way in order to hold him off. Right now it looks more than likely we will see both Penix and Tagovailoa end up starting 5+ games at some point during the regular season. This battle may not be fully settled until January — or even beyond that.”
If one stretches the criteria of what could be a summer quarterback competition, these clubs could partake:
— New York Jets: Geno Smith v. Cade Klubnik
— Las Vegas Raiders: Kirk Cousins v. Fernando Mendoza
— Pittsburgh Steelers: Whatever Happens if Aaron Rodgers Doesn’t Sign
NFL training camps are about 12 weeks away.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
