OTAs Begin Today

I’m sympathetic to the National media because they don’t get all the context and this is a prime example.
JJ is very well liked in the locker room.
Everyone knows he has to earn every rep and it’s an uphill battle.
His comments were refreshing… it was real and honest, not… https://t.co/l7IFza3BhG

— Ben Leber (@nacholeber) May 28, 2026

comet52 wrote:

I felt when the Murray deal went down it was time for JJM and his agent to ask out and get him a fresh start somewhere. The last thing KOC wants come fall is if things are going well and then KM has a bad game and he has fans and media haranguing him about it, i.e. a QB controversy. There's no upside for either party imo.

It is why I said JJ will be traded before week 1

StickierBuns wrote:

https://x.com/nacholeber/status/2060069654270493143

I believe full well that JJ has that locker room. I really do feel that. Maybe it was worth the 1.6 million to get out of your number 10 pick what you expected. It will be interesting, because I feel the team backs JJ.

comet52 wrote:

I felt when the Murray deal went down it was time for JJM and his agent to ask out and get him a fresh start somewhere. The last thing KOC wants come fall is if things are going well and then KM has a bad game and he has fans and media haranguing him about it, i.e. a QB controversy. There's no upside for either party imo.

That’s obviously not the best, but the literal last thing he wants is for either JJM or Murray to leave and do better on a different team than the QB that stays here.

Can you imagine the media if they ship JJM to Pittsburgh or somewhere and he turns in a Drake Maye 2025 type season, meanwhile Murray, Wentz and Brosmer rotate because of injuries and get booted from the wildcard game after a limp effort?

JustInTime wrote:

It’s a shame Chris Tommason is in Denver now.

We still have our very own little birdie though...

StickierBuns wrote:

https://x.com/nacholeber/status/2060069654270493143

I dont like all of Leber's takes, but I like this one. McCarthy did come across as transparent, a bit bitter (maybe just annoyed) but transparent none the less.

medaille wrote:

Can you imagine the media if they ship JJM to Pittsburgh or somewhere and he turns in a Drake Maye 2025 type season, meanwhile Murray, Wentz and Brosmer rotate because of injuries and get booted from the wildcard game after a limp effort?

Yah, both these QB's have to prove they can stay on the field...Which is why I think they'll both be here in 26. There are a lot of chapters to unfold and this story will be written during the season more than in TCamp/Raven Scrimmages or OTA's.

All bets off in 27 though.

Have you had your fill yet?

I have....

================================================

It is fitting given his suburban Chicago roots that Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy seems to view his QB competition with newcomer Kyler Murray the way longtime film director John Hughes might have envisioned teammates-turned-rivals.

“It’s just like two guys in a classroom,” McCarthy said Wednesday when asked about his relationship with Murray at the conclusion of a far-too-interesting late May organized team activity session. “He sits on one side, and I sit on the other side, and it’s the coaches’ responsibility to teach us and coach us.”

The response wasn’t exactly icy, but it was certainly not friendly. It had the large assembled media contingent looking at each other like, “Oh?” even as McCarthy continued talking.

There were glimpses Wednesday of the youthful exuberance that abounded in the 2025 offseason as he prepared to be the Vikings starter, but often McCarthy had a measured tone with carefully chosen words as he fielded questions for a little over five minutes.

He came across like a young player at a career crossroads who understands there is suddenly someone older and more accomplished standing in his path.

To paraphrase the great orator and former Gophers football coach Tim Brewster: Is J.J. McCarthy hungry or is he pouting?

At the start of today’s 10 things to know, here are some of my thoughts after Wednesday’s OTA session:

The first thing I noticed

Not much is revealed during OTAs, but things can be gleaned or interpreted. When all four Vikings quarterbacks were on the field at the start of the hot (but not training camp hot) session, three of them were more or less stretching together. Max Brosmer was near Carson Wentz, who was right next to Murray. About 10 yards away — the length of a first down, which often eluded him last year — McCarthy was stretching in a different area. This might mean nothing. But a lot of us noticed it, and that was before McCarthy gave his enticing classroom quote, so it feels relevant.

What about the actual football?

When the Vikings got down to actual work, which consisted mainly of 7-on-7 drills with some full team work mixed in, Murray and McCarthy seemed to split reps fairly evenly with both starters and reserves. If it is a true competition, as the Vikings have said and McCarthy says he has been told, it looked like one in the session we were allowed to watch. McCarthy still has a rocket for an arm and he was still off-target sometimes. Both QBs hit on some deep balls, with Murray’s long connection with Jordan Addison standing out. After one QB — in the spirit of competition, it would be impolite to say which one— threw an errant pass during a drill, I did notice two actual vultures circling near the practice field.

What would Childress say?

Murray threw an intermediate in-breaking route with great anticipation during a live rep, releasing the ball right as his receiver made his break with a completion as the result. After it happened, I recalled a conversation I had with former Vikings coach Brad Childress for a project about Brett Favre’s first practice in Minnesota in 2009. Said Childress: “When everybody gets up there the first time and he barks out the first signals everyone is kind of looking at each other like, ‘Wow, that’s what that’s supposed to sound like, huh?’ Then he zips a pass and everybody goes: Baby, we’re in business.” I wonder if that’s how O’Connell feels when watching Murray run the offense.

What McCarthy said

In addition to the classroom quote, McCarthy was asked about whether he was disappointed the Vikings signed Murray. “Then I would be disappointed if the rain fell,” McCarthy said. “That’s out of my control. At the end of the day, I’ve just got to focus on what I can do to be the best quarterback for this football team.” My sense is that McCarthy is not happy Murray is here, but that’s not surprising. My sense is that McCarthy is using this as motivation and isn’t pouting, but again that’s from a glimpse and not a full picture.

What Murray said

Murray was also asked about his relationship with McCarthy. “It’s been great. ... Obviously, I know he’s a younger guy, so any way I can help him ... give him any knowledge that he needs.” Murray said. “Again, we’re both competitors. I know we both want what’s best for the team.” Both are going to compete, but it seems each is viewing through a different lens. And in the end, actions will speak louder than words.

Strib

medaille wrote:

Can you imagine the media if they ship JJM to Pittsburgh or somewhere and he turns in a Drake Maye 2025 type season

Not really. I see his ceiling as NFL backup.

“About 10 yards away — the length of a first down, which often eluded him last year — McCarthy was stretching in a different area.”

JFC, are you kidding me? I’m sorry, but that’s a little bitch move. Go back to HS with that bull shit. Unbelievable.

I still don't get the "JJM being traded" bull fodder. With neither K1 nor Wentz playing all that many games last season, the emphasis on JJM's vulnerability to trade is ridiculous. He's more steeped in the system, already is a fixture in the locker room, and is still the best chance for KOC to prove that he can actually develop a QB, not just throw a new coat of system paint on castoff veterans.

JustInTime wrote:

“About 10 yards away — the length of a first down, which often eluded him last year — McCarthy was stretching in a different area.”

JFC, are you kidding me? I’m sorry, but that’s a little bitch move. Go back to HS with that bull shit. Unbelievable.

Sounds to me like he is taking it upon himself to make it a true competition. Don't see much wrong with it. Seems he doesn't want to get lost in the Murray circle jerk.

Zanary wrote:

I still don't get the "JJM being traded" bull fodder. With neither K1 nor Wentz playing all that many games last season, the emphasis on JJM's vulnerability to trade is ridiculous. He's more steeped in the system, already is a fixture in the locker room, and is still the best chance for KOC to prove that he can actually develop a QB, not just throw a new coat of system paint on castoff veterans.

Vikings are not going to trade JJ. There's stupid and then there's really stupid. That would be really stupid.

2027 is another story, but in 2026 the Vikings need JJ. And like many said before, trading him now is selling at rock bottom. Everybody's got their QB rooms set. If you let him show out in the preseason and the handful of games he'll likely start in 2026, you can get a helluva lot more.

But he also needs to show that he's a team player, because if this overblown, media-driven locker room "tension" becomes actual locker room tension, we might have a problem.

comet52 wrote:

Not really. I see his ceiling as NFL backup.

It’s rapidly becoming apparent that he lacks the maturity for even that role. Best option is he balls out in preseason and at some point before the trade deadline he gets moved for a similar haul the Cards got for Josh Rosen.

JustInTime wrote:

It’s rapidly becoming apparent that he lacks the maturity for even that role. Best option is he balls out in preseason and at some point before the trade deadline he gets moved for a similar haul the Cards got for Josh Rosen.

Yeah I get pushback for my take that a fresh start would be good for him but for all we know that's why he came off a bit pouty the other day. Maybe he wants that change of scenery and the team said "nein". Can't find a buyer at their price, whatever.

All we can do is guess what's really going on behind the scenes, but just following the actions not the words tells us this is 100% KOC's show now and KM is his guy.

I think this trade JJM talk is way too premature...Mainly because we have no idea what we have with K1 in MN.

The guy may end-up being a turd here and I want a back-up with upside.

purplefaithful wrote:

I think this trade JJM talk is way too premature...Mainly because we have no idea what we have with K1 in MN.
The guy may end-up being a turd here and I want a back-up with upside.

I think Murray wins the competition fairly easily due to a few things, but mostly his experience. But I agree, we're much better off keeping a young, developing QB in house. This is a valuable asset we shouldn't just discard because he couldn't beat out a 7-year veteran...

UNLESS...there is a growing rift between HC and QB, or QB1 and QB2. And I can't say for sure there's nothing there.

MaroonBells wrote:

I think Murray wins the competition fairly easily due to a few things, but mostly his experience. But I agree, we're much better off keeping a young, developing QB in house. This is a valuable asset we shouldn't just discard because he couldn't beat out a 7-year veteran...
UNLESS...there is a growing rift between HC and QB, or QB1 and QB2. And I can't say for sure there's nothing there.

I think K1 wins this competition too...But my gut says the JJM story isnt going to be accurately told in the short-term.

I'm encouraged early on by what we are reading about his progress and what that could mean for him here long-term.

But yah, no rift or schisms please...

After he was drafted, JJM gave an interview where he stated that the top QBs in that draft had all circled Minnesota as their preferred destination based on their desire to work with KOC. JJM was the QB fortunate enough to be drafted by the Vikings. It hasn't worked out for him here yet & it might not ever. Outside of injuries, the reasons for it not working out for him are debatable. But, it has to be a big disappointment for him to be drafted by the team that he wished for & find his future still in limbo going into his third season.