Get ready for more of this until a starter is named
It's just the way its going to be (got to be) at this stage of the off-season...
I also wonder if Frank Smith will be one of those under the radar coaching hires that can make an impact?
================================
PHOENIX – An air of satisfaction hung over Vikings brass early this week at the NFL’s annual league meeting.
That’s deserved, at least for now. In the month since the last league-wide gathering, the NFL scouting combine, they achieved exactly what they said they wanted to at the quarterback position, even with salary cap constraints: build a competitive room from which a bona fide, 17-game starter can emerge.
In March, they added Kyler Murray the first overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft, at a league minimum price tag. And they re-signed veteran Carson Wentz, who was the fill-in starter last season until injured.
The Vikings say they still believe in developing youngsters J.J. McCarthy, who ran the team at the start of the 2025 season, and Max Brosmer, who was thrown into the fire as an undrafted free-agent rookie.
“That blend is going to be great in the room,” Vikings co-owner Mark Wilf said Monday, March 30. “Both experience and development, and talent on all fronts. It’s a great situation to have, and we’re going to come out a lot better for it.”
The Vikings would prefer, as coach Kevin O’Connell has said more than once, to have to start only one quarterback in a season instead of three or four. After a cheeky comment following Murray’s signing that a starter didn’t need to be named in March, O’Connell said Monday that it’s too early to even begin thinking about how reps are divided in the lead-up to the season.
His approach in the next phase of the calendar, organized team activities starting in late May, centers on “learning and teaching.”
O’Connell said he expects OTAs will include the full group of receivers, including Justin Jefferson, who had a voice in the quarterback discussions this offseason as the Vikings’ franchise player. Jefferson attended OTAs in full last year, too, as the Vikings looked to build his chemistry with McCarthy.
Getting every quarterback a high amount of reps with every member of that receiving group and the rest of the offense is more important to O’Connell than funneling them all to a potential No. 1.
“You can’t go into it with a mindset of trying to elevate your quarterback room and get as many talented players as you can in there and then start carving out the reps in March,” O’Connell said. “It really doesn’t work like that.”
It helps, then, that the four QBs are already spending time in Minnesota working together and establishing rapport.
Murray, whose signing last month comes after seven years living in Arizona while with the Cardinals, is in town a few days a week. The two-time Pro Bowl choice and former Heisman Trophy winner is the presumed 2026 starter. It’s hard to imagine the outcome any other way, with the Cardinals paying the bulk of his $36.8 million salary (the Vikings are paying him the league minimum $1.3 million) after he chose Minnesota as the place to try to rejuvenate his career.
The one obstacle could be Murray struggling to pick up O’Connell’s scheme, though that seems unlikely, too. The 28-year-old’s football IQ and recall have been lauded by members of the organization. Additionally, O’Connell seems open to adapting his offense to fit some of Murray’s skill set and previous experience, particularly as an elusive runner.
The Vikings coach also brought in Frank Smith as assistant head coach ahead of Murray’s signing to help adapt the Vikings’ running game and evolve the overall offense.
“I see a lot of ways that we’ll be able to continue the evolution of our offense here in Year 5, but at the same time, principles that I believe Kyler will be able to not only make his own but provide different layers to what we do with some of his experiences,” O’Connell said.
McCarthy, meanwhile, returned recently from training in Southern California with former NFL QB and 3DQB trainer John Beck. O’Connell said he believes McCarthy gained “perspective” through his 10 starts last season, but the Vikings would still like to see a level of consistency from McCarthy on and off the field that they didn’t quite get in 2025.
That is as much a reason for their building out of the quarterback room as anything else: giving McCarthy room to develop and ample resources to help him do so.
The Vikings seem to have a better plan in place than they did before last season, although Wentz is recovering from a season-ending shoulder injury.
Does Murray have the smarts and talent to be the key to the Vikings’ first playoff win five years into O’Connell’s tenure?
“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. “All those guys are gonna have great offseasons and be ready to rock and roll.”
Strib
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
StickierBuns wrote:
Its okay with me, but yeah its going to be this until July. In the perfect world this sounds great:“That blend is going to be great in the room,” Vikings co-owner Mark Wilf said Monday, March 30. “Both experience and development, and talent on all fronts. It’s a great situation to have, and we’re going to come out a lot better for it.”
But its not how it works in the NFL. I said the day after the season ended that there was zero way KOC would allow a year by QBs like he had last year. Won't happen again. But that's a double edged sword because rookie QBs need development. Maybe KOC needs a rookie QB 2.0 and McCarthy isn't the guy....but that takes commitment. Blah, blah blah.....I'm repeating myself.
I'm tired. Listen, here's what I'd love since this is how the train is coming into the station: Kyler Murray goes apeshit in a KOC offense and we sign the little shit to a 4-year contract moving forward. Done and done. Crown the the dude QB Whisperer and we get on with our lives. That's my wish. We'll erect a statue of MB in VikeFanTown in the city square and worship at the altar.
KM gives us a better chance to win more now. But my heart is still with JJM tbh...I really wanted to see the kid grow and ultimately win here. It's a bit odd because I agree with MB that the Vikings got handed a gift from the football gods, but I have a bit of melancholy about it for JJM.
Maybe it still works out for him here...
The first two years have not been easy on any of the fans or JJ for that matter. I wanted clarity last season and got none.
I'll root for KM cause he's going to be the guy come September (unless the unspeakable happens) but a piece of me will still be rooting for #9.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
StickierBuns wrote:
Its okay with me, but yeah its going to be this until July. In the perfect world this sounds great:“That blend is going to be great in the room,” Vikings co-owner Mark Wilf said Monday, March 30. “Both experience and development, and talent on all fronts. It’s a great situation to have, and we’re going to come out a lot better for it.”
But its not how it works in the NFL. I said the day after the season ended that there was zero way KOC would allow a year by QBs like he had last year. Won't happen again. But that's a double edged sword because rookie QBs need development. Maybe KOC needs a rookie QB 2.0 and McCarthy isn't the guy....but that takes commitment. Blah, blah blah.....I'm repeating myself.
I'm tired. Listen, here's what I'd love since this is how the train is coming into the station: Kyler Murray goes apeshit in a KOC offense and we sign the little shit to a 4-year contract moving forward. Done and done. Crown the the dude QB Whisperer and we get on with our lives. That's my wish. We'll erect a statue of MB in VikeFanTown in the city square and worship at the altar.
As long as I get the NIL.
But dude, if all I need to do to get a statue is to argue that adding a 28-year-old 2X Pro Bowl QB to a team with Justin Jefferson for the cost of a long snapper is "kind of a good idea," then sign me up. What else do you wanna know? lol
There is no question KM is talented. But pro bowl appearances have been meaningless ever since Jeff Saturday got in, after he was benched an replaced. Hell, Sanders is a Pro Bowl QB.
purplefaithful wrote:
KM gives us a better chance to win more now. But my heart is still with JJM tbh...I really wanted to see the kid grow and ultimately win here. It's a bit odd because I agree with MB that the Vikings got handed a gift from the football gods, but I have a bit of melancholy about it for JJM.
Maybe it still works out for him here...
The first two years have not been easy on any of the fans or JJ for that matter. I wanted clarity last season and got none.
I'll root for KM cause he's going to be the guy come September (unless the unspeakable happens) but a piece of me will still be rooting for #9.
I think we did receive clarity last year when we discovered JJM isn't as good as hoped for but still has potential and needs more time and development. Murray is definitely a gift horse but is likely to be here for one year only. The best thing that could short of a superbowl with Murray would be, through either injury or poor performance, JJ gets to start and plays well enough to keep the starting position. I believe the probability of that occuring is higher than most on this board!
wiviking wrote:
There is no question KM is talented. But pro bowl appearances have been meaningless ever since Jeff Saturday got in, after he was benched an replaced. Hell, Sanders is a Pro Bowl QB.
I think we're all smart enough to know the difference. Sanders threw 7 TDs and 10 INTs. Yes, that's a joke. There have been several like this, especially at QB.
Kyler Murray's first Pro Bowl came after he threw for 4,000 yards, rushed for 800 more, with 37 total TDs and 12 INTs. His second came after 4200 total yards, 29 TDs, 10 INTs and a 100+ passer rating.
hogjowlsjohnny wrote:
I think we did receive clarity last year when we discovered JJM isn't as good as hoped for but still has potential and needs more time and development.Murray is definitely a gift horse but is likely to be here for one year only.
Fair point...
JJM floor was much lower than I anticipated, in retrospect was it the lowest of the Rd 1 QBs from that class? Hard to say for sure because of all the injuries.
Certainly stunted his growth a bunch.
The positive was seeing improvement as the year progressed.
I dont know what the odds are of KM getting a long-term contract here? Thats where this just has to play itself out.
On to the draft...The league year waits for nobody.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
purplefaithful wrote:
I dont know what the odds are of KM getting a long-term contract here? Thats where this just has to play itself out.
That is the big question for sure. If he has any kind of turnaround like Darnold, wouldn't have to be at that level, just some significant improvement then some QB needy team is likely to make him a huge offer. I could see us being at a crossroads once again, unless his play is so spectacular and we make a decent playoff run that it we would not want to make another Darnold mistake.
Right now it seems like we have put ourselves in a good position to have 3 QBs who could potentially have a solid season. So the odds of one of them hitting would seem to be in our favor, HOWEVER this is the Vikings and based on our history I would not be surprised if next year we are in the market for a new QB.
It will be sometime in August Training Camp before KOC officially annoints a starter.
Montana Tom wrote:
It will be sometime in August Training Camp before KOC officially annoints a starter.
Yes for sure TC..
But I'll bet a bakers dozen Duncan Donuts we'll have a very good idea before the first pre-season game. We'll probably know right after those intra squad scrimmages.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
I just don't see how this is any different then the other 65 seasons. Team is READY to pop! Lets bring in a Pro-Bowl (Cousins and Cunningham), All-Pro\Hall of Fame (Farve\Tarkenton), Savior (Bradford\Darnold) that will lead us to the promised land! The teams prior to each one of these saviors was either NFCC, playoff winners, or ready to GO! It's just a matter of when the air will be let out of the balloon, not if. The closest the Vikings have ever come to developing a QB who I believe could have brought the trophy home was Culpepper. And in true Viking fashion he blew out any chance of that in 05.
Like was said, we are going to get tons of this B.S. Especially from the ownership crew. What are they going to say? "Sorry guys, we decided that the best deadbeat we could bring in here so we don't lose our ass on season tickets is Murray."
Anyways, I am a Vikings fan first and foremost. I am disappointed that we are doing this...AGAIN. But like was said earlier, I hope KM is a Greek God! Wins the Super Bowl, drinks wine from a golden goblet and they erect the statue or whatnot.
Vikesrock wrote:
Anyways, I am a Vikings fan first and foremost. I am disappointed that we are doing this...AGAIN. But like was said earlier, I hope KM is a Greek God! Wins the Super Bowl, drinks wine from a golden goblet and they erect the statue or whatnot.
At this point? I dont care if Brosmer leads em to a LOombari...Just get it done while I'm still on the right side of dirt.
I hope it's a blast watching Murray at QB this season, last year sucked ballz.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
Vikesrock wrote:
I just don't see how this is any different then the other 65 seasons. Team is READY to pop! Lets bring in a Pro-Bowl (Cousins and Cunningham), All-Pro\Hall of Fame (Farve\Tarkenton), Savior (Bradford\Darnold) that will lead us to the promised land! The teams prior to each one of these saviors was either NFCC, playoff winners, or ready to GO! It's just a matter of when the air will be let out of the balloon, not if. The closest the Vikings have ever come to developing a QB who I believe could have brought the trophy home was Culpepper. And in true Viking fashion he blew out any chance of that in 05.Like was said, we are going to get tons of this B.S. Especially from the ownership crew. What are they going to say? "Sorry guys, we decided that the best deadbeat we could bring in here so we don't lose our ass on season tickets is Murray."
Anyways, I am a Vikings fan first and foremost. I am disappointed that we are doing this...AGAIN. But like was said earlier, I hope KM is a Greek God! Wins the Super Bowl, drinks wine from a golden goblet and they erect the statue or whatnot.
In a perfect world, JJ McCarthy was fantastic last year and we’re going into 2026 with a head full of steam, a 23-year-old emerging star at QB and visions of Lombardis dancing in our heads.
Unfortunately, that’s not the world we live in. So on behalf of the franchise, I’d like apologize for wanting to win while Justin Jefferson is still under 30 and Brian Flores is still running our defense.
If it’s any encouragement to you, 3 of the last 5 QBs to win a Super Bowl were “deadbeats” who were signed after their teams failed to hit on a QB in the draft.
Look, I'm with MB on you can't beat bringing in a starting QB who has performed fine in this league for $1.3M. That's absurd and really a no-brainer for a vet QB, despite what I think of Murray's game.
The problem I have is two things:
1) It may stunt McCarthy's growth
2) The message it sends
As VR said, we just don't have the patience to develop a QB and it makes me sick.
I didn't see the Bears, Broncos, or Patriots do this after their QB's rookie season debacles. Bo Nix looked like the worst QB I have ever seen in the NFL during the first half of the season, yes that includes JeMarcus Russell. They stuck with all three of them, allowed them to PLAY, and all three grew later in their first season or the next season. It's not rocket science. Development takes time to adjust to a different league. Not to mention, Nix was 26 years old, so he should have been quickest to develop.
Besides that, for McCarthy coming off a season-long injury, you have everyone constantly telling you that you need to adjust this and adjust that. You're not allowed to have fun, stop meditating, play with emotion, wipe that face paint off, and grow up immediately. Change everything you know, even if you've only lost 4 games in your life since real competitive football began.
IceRatz16 wrote:
Look, I'm with MB on you can't beat bringing in a starting QB who has performed fine in this league for $1.3M. That's absurd and really a no-brainer for a vet QB, despite what I think of Murray's game.I didn't see the Bears, Broncos, or Patriots do this after their QB's rookie season debacles. Bo Nix looked like the worst QB I have ever seen in the NFL during the first half of the season, yes that includes JeMarcus Russell.
McCarthy has (far) more questions going into yr3 than any other QB drafted in that class. And I dont recall any of those teams having the option to bring in a Murray for a few coins found under the couch cushions.
Can't fault the Vikings at all on this. Id fault them for passing on this gift, hell I'd skewer them everyday on line if they passed.
We're at the point now where fans can choose to get on the Murray train or just be PO'd all season.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
IceRatz16 wrote:
Look, I'm with MB on you can't beat bringing in a starting QB who has performed fine in this league for $1.3M. That's absurd and really a no-brainer for a vet QB, despite what I think of Murray's game.The problem I have is two things:
1) It may stunt McCarthy's growth
2) The message it sendsAs VR said, we just don't have the patience to develop a QB and it makes me sick.
I didn't see the Bears, Broncos, or Patriots do this after their QB's rookie season debacles. Bo Nix looked like the worst QB I have ever seen in the NFL during the first half of the season, yes that includes JeMarcus Russell. They stuck with all three of them, allowed them to PLAY, and all three grew later in their first season or the next season. It's not rocket science. Development takes time to adjust to a different league. Not to mention, Nix was 26 years old, so he should have been quickest to develop.
Besides that, for McCarthy coming off a season-long injury, you have everyone constantly telling you that you need to adjust this and adjust that. You're not allowed to have fun, stop meditating, play with emotion, wipe that face paint off, and grow up immediately. Change everything you know, even if you've only lost 4 games in your life since real competitive football began.
You talk about patience, but none of the QBs you mention suffered a season-ending injury their first season, followed by a 30 lb weight loss, followed by three more injuries in their second season.
None of this is anyone’s fault. It’s just reality, and it played a big part in why McCarthy did not develop along a similar timeline. It sucks. You bet it does. Woe is us. But it doesn’t mean that McCarthy can’t still develop. In fact, I believe he will. But based on what I witnessed last year, I just don’t trust him to do it as early as September 2026. And clearly, the team wasn't ready to, once again, place its win-now roster in the hands of a win-maybe-later QB.
But I do have a hunch McCarthy's going to have a terrific summer in his 3rd season in the offense. Murray will still start, but JJ's going to give them something to think about.
purplefaithful wrote:I already know. PM me if u can't wait to find out. :shy:
We'll probably know right after those intra squad scrimmages.
IceRatz16 wrote:
1) It may stunt McCarthy's growth
Oh no, did anyone tell the quarterback whisperer!?
2) The message it sends As VR said, we just don't have the patience to develop a QB and it makes me sick.
We=Mark Wilf, Zygmunt Wilf, Kevin O'Connell, and likely Brian Flores. You'd need new owners and a whole new regime to achieve this level of patience that is deemed so important.
Personally I think the sooner you move off a mistake the better.
yes that includes JaMarcus Russell.
Hmmm, JJM's statistical comp somehow gets a mention.
I look forward to the Kyler Murray experiment. IMO it's gonna go boom or bust. Hopefully BOOM!
comet52 wrote:
I already know. PM me if u can't wait to find out. :shy:
OF course we know...I was referring to when the brass makes it official
And yah, lets hope for Boom!
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
StickierBuns wrote:
JaMarcus Russell started 31 games. Hell, Josh Rosen started 24. Joey Harrington started 81!JJ McCarthy: 10 starts. 6-4 record as a starter. 0.0% way to know what he could or can be yet. How anyone with a straight face can say KOC isn't bailing on developing a young QB is being disingenuous. But it is what it is. Murray comes in with potential and a really REALLY nice one year contract cost. He's 'elevated the QB room'....just needs to elevate the win total and playoff victories and we will all be knee deep in candy and nuts come Christmas time.
You raise some good points and consistently...
I personally believe JJ can still get developed and will grow this season. As much as playing? Nope
Not to beat a dead horse, but would u have passed on Murray this year under the circumstances?
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
MaroonBells wrote:
I think we're all smart enough to know the difference. Sanders threw 7 TDs and 10 INTs. Yes, that's a joke. There have been several like this, especially at QB.
Kyler Murray's first Pro Bowl came after he threw for 4,000 yards, rushed for 800 more, with 37 total TDs and 12 INTs. His second came after 4200 total yards, 29 TDs, 10 INTs and a 100+ passer rating.
Do you have his poster above your bed? If he doesn't win a SB and become a HOFer I will be so disappointed. I don't trust him worth a damn lick when the game is on the line. There are things Murray just doesn't have and you are missing that point.
Canthony wrote:
Do you have his poster above your bed? If he doesn't win a SB and become a HOFer I will be so disappointed. I don't trust him worth a damn lick when the game is on the line. There are things Murray just doesn't have and you are missing that point.
So he has to win a Super Bowl and go to the Hall of Fame before spending zero draft capital and $1.3M becomes worth it in your eyes? Why is this so hard for you to understand?
Edit Post (mod action — author will see a notice)
Warn Poster
Suspend User (3 days)
The user will be suspended for 3 days and will receive an email with the reason and information about how to appeal.