How dark is this horse?

MaroonBells wrote:

The dark horse MVP talk comes from the supporting cast. What might happen if you put an experienced QB who is a weapon in his own right into a KOC offense? That's the gist of it. And it's not just ESPN. NFL.com did a thing last week that mentioned Murray as a possible MVP. I agree. I might actually put money on this one.

What better way than with me to place a fun little bet with this. I am not being facetious when I say that either. I am down for making something fun. It will be fun either way.

Just hope you're right when or if he is the starter! lol

Kind of what most of us thought: JJ is/has improved, but Kyler still gets QB1. At least that's the opinion of most. If it makes the cream rise for both in their level of play, great.....

#Vikings QB JJ McCarthy has improved “in a major way” on things the team has asked, including his “layering” of the ball and throwing at different speeds, per @JFowlerESPN.

“The Vikings asked him to fix some things, including his ability to layer the ball, throw at different… pic.twitter.com/fLqRsqLt1Z

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) June 19, 2026

StickierBuns wrote:

Kind of what most of us thought: JJ is/has improved, but Kyler still gets QB1. At least that's the opinion of most. If it makes the cream rise for both in their level of play, great.....
https://twitter.com/i/status/2068068174491214007

The question to be answered still is whether JJ's accuracy has also improved under game time pressure, in crucial situations. My expectation is marked improvement from last year to this year. I also expect Kyler to start the season and JJ coming off the bench due to either injury or Kyler struggling at some point. That seems like the best scenario for the long term future of JJ and the Vikings.

I view the competition as both players working on the same team with the goal of winning the championship. I wish the best for them both and won't chose one over the other.

hogjowlsjohnny wrote:

The question to be answered still is whether JJ's accuracy has also improved under game time pressure, in crucial situations. My expectation is marked improvement from last year to this year. I also expect Kyler to start the season and JJ coming off the bench due to either injury or Kyler struggling at some point. That seems like the best scenario for the long term future of JJ and the Vikings.
I view the competition as both players working on the same team with the goal of winning the championship. I wish the best for them both and won't chose one over the other.

I think the best scenario for JJ McCarthy and the Vikings is for him to show all the things they'd hoped he would be when they drafted him and win the starting job. It seems like he's improved his footwork and this competition is bringing out a different type of focus in him. Maybe he changes the narrative around this once they strap the pads on...

MAD GAINZ wrote:

I think the best scenario for JJ McCarthy and the Vikings is for him to show all the things they'd hoped he would be when they drafted him and win the starting job. It seems like he's improved his footwork and this competition is bringing out a different type of focus in him. Maybe he changes the narrative around this once they strap the pads on...

Having McCarthy become the QB we all wanted him to be is the best outcome for the Vikings long term. I also believe that's a real possibility. I'm not one who thinks McCarthy will never be a starting QB. I absolutely believe he will. I'm just not convinced it happens this year. I'll say it again: I think Murray wins the competition and the biggest reason for that will be his experience.

In fact, I can almost guarantee that if Murray wins this thing, the one thing you're going to hear KOC mention more than any other in the presser announcing it will be his experience advantage. Everything else—arm talent, footwork, growth, maturity—is nebulous and subjective. Kyler's experience advantage is just an incontrovertible fact and it doesn't aim a critical light at McCarthy in any way, which I think is going to be important to both McCarthy and the Vikings.

MaroonBells wrote:

Having McCarthy become the QB we all wanted him to be is the best outcome for the Vikings long term. I also believe that's a real possibility. I'm not one who thinks McCarthy will never be a starting QB. I absolutely believe he will. I'm just not convinced it happens this year. I'll say it again: I think Murray wins the competition and the biggest reason for that will be his experience.
In fact, I can almost guarantee that if Murray wins this thing, the one thing you're going to hear KOC mention more than any other in the presser announcing it will be his experience advantage. Everything else—arm talent, footwork, growth, maturity—is nebulous and subjective. Kyler's experience advantage is just an incontrovertible fact and it doesn't aim a critical light at McCarthy in any way, which I think is going to be important to both McCarthy and the Vikings.

It'll be an exemplary word salad from KOC...

That said, I agree that having McCarthy grow into a franchise level qb is best for us long-term. I hope thats his ceiling?!

And yah mb, experience is one of the biggest differences right now. It's an easy call if you believe the consistent press takes on how he's improved on so much else.

I never in a million years would have predicted this kind of first 2 years for McCarthy. And I think this year could pack just as much unexpected as anything we've seen to date.

After all, this is the Vikings and QB's...What could possibly unfold??

Zanary wrote:

Eh...

...I have doubts. Partially, because Kyler's been a fading blip on my radar since his initial splashes; the hype I'm seeing now seems determined to ignore injuries, inconsistencies, work ethic, and so on.

Also, I'm not fully convinced that he's going to win the competition. All signs point to JJM trying to put the bit in his teeth, and push himself into a status that helps us all forget his worst moments of last season...

...but mostly, due to their histories, I'm nearly certain that we'll see them both starting for the team this season.

Both of them will be starting at some point, I believe as well. Injuries follow K1 and JJM around like a puppy dog.