Vikings have a crowded QB room. What does that mean for JJ McCarthy?

PHOENIX – The Minnesota Vikings say publicly that they have a “competitive situation” at quarterback. What does that mean for J.J. McCarthy?

Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said McCarthy’s had a healthy offseason. The 2024 first-round pick was training in California for a while and has since been in the Vikings facility working on his craft.

It's a crucial offseason for McCarthy. The team opted to sign quarterback Kyler Murray in March, casting some doubt over whether the Michigan product will be the team's QB1 come September.

"I think J.J. has had a really good offseason," O'Connell said Monday. "I think he's got perspective now. In a lot of ways, those 10 games – albeit, we would love to be talking about 30-plus games – just starting. He definitely has experience. He knows what it's felt like to go in there and do some things at a really high level. Now it's just about consistency, and it's about being in a competitive situation.

“I think he's going to have a really good offseason. I think it's going to be a very competitive situation.”

McCarthy will have to have more than a really good offseason to keep his spot atop the Vikings depth chart, given Murray's arrival. The passer finished the 2025 season with the worst passer rating (72.6) by a quarterback with 10 or more starts. He was limited to 10 starts because of a high ankle sprain and he later hurt his hand. He ended the year with more interceptions (12) than touchdown passes (11).

That compounds the rocky start to his NFL career. He missed all of his rookie season due to a knee injury. He was named the starter in 2025 and things went as rough as a roller coaster ride at Mall of America.

The Vikings subsequently signed Murray and brought back Wentz to strengthen their quarterback room.

"We feel really good about the combination of depth, talent and the fact that we've got a room that's going to push each other," O'Connell said.

O'Connell is right. The quarterbacks are going to push each other. The Vikings haven’t formally announced a starting quarterback. But many around the NFL expect Murray to win the job.

Murray does have his flaws. He tends to play off-script and wore out his welcome in Arizona, leading to his release this offseason. But his career average of 235 passing yards per game and career passer rating of 92.2 are all upgrades over McCarthy and Wentz.

Even O'Connell’s assessment of Murray on Monday gave clarity to the level of excitement the team has to have him in the fold. O'Connell even visualized how Murray can help expand Minnesota's offense.

“I don't think he's gotten enough credit for playing in rhythm. Some of those plays we all recognize some of the highlight reel ability that he has. Kyler Murray has always had that level of talent,” O'Connell said. “Watching him play with really, really good technique and fundamentals, either in the drop back game, the play action game can be done a lot of different ways, offset, gun, pistol and under center, he's pretty dynamic in the keeper game, the movement game, obviously, with his natural athleticism.

"I see a lot of ways that we'll be able to continue the evolution and evolve our offense here in Year 5."

The 2026 season will be O'Connell's fifth in Minnesota. And it’s becoming increasingly likely that his fifth year will feature Murray as the starting quarterback – even if the Vikings want to wait to formally announce it.

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.