The Minnesota Vikings have signed quarterback Kyler Murray to compete with J.J. McCarthy for the starting job next season, according to multiple reports.
Key Takeaways
The Minnesota Vikings have signed quarterback Kyler Murray to compete with J.J. McCarthy for the starting job next season.
- Kyler Murray signs one-year deal with Vikings
- Murray brings Pro Bowl experience and career totals of 20,460 passing yards and 121 touchdowns
- Vikings aim to address QB depth after McCarthy's injury-plagued rookie campaign
- Murray's rushing ability adds a dynamic element to the team's offense
Murray, 28, is a two-time Pro Bowler with career totals of 20,460 passing yards, 121 touchdowns, and 60 interceptions. He posted side-by-side photos on social media Thursday evening, one showing him smiling while wearing Vikings apparel and the other from his youth in a Vikings uniform.
The Arizona Cardinals drafted Murray with the No. 1 overall pick in 2019 but cut ties with him this offseason after a head coaching change. Murray started just five games last season and has only played a full season three times in his seven-year career.
From a pure talent perspective, Murray will almost certainly have the inside track on Minnesota's starting job. Though he's been inconsistent throughout his career, his best stretches have surpassed what McCarthy has shown on the field.
The Vikings drafted McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in 2024. After missing his entire rookie season due to a torn meniscus, he sat out seven games last season with various injuries. The 23-year-old QB finished the season with a 57.6% completion percentage, 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
Despite his injuries and poor play, McCarthy showed flashes in his sophomore season. However, his accuracy, decision-making, and timing reflected a player who wasn't ready for the NFL. The Vikings also have Max Brosmer on the roster, but he looked even more overmatched than McCarthy when he saw the field last season.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the general manager who orchestrated the trade-up for McCarthy, was fired this offseason. The Vikings are going into free agency and NFL draft with no permanent replacement, instead letting longtime football executive Rob Brzezinski run the show in the interim.
The Vikings had indicated all offseason that they planned to bring in competition for McCarthy. Despite his injuries and poor play, the Vikings still finished with a winning record last season.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 4 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.