NFC North Report Card 2026: All Four Teams Should Be in the Mix for the Playoffs
https://www.si.com/nfl/nfc-north-report-card-2026-kyler-murray-big-addition-vikings
"When Murray is at his best, he’s extending plays with his arm and legs. However, that didn’t happen enough in his final years in Arizona primarily because he couldn’t stay healthy, playing more than 11 games in a season only once since 2021. In ’24, when Murray stayed healthy, there appeared to be a disconnect with the coaching staff, which aimed to make Murray more of a pocket passer, leading to mixed results, including 30 sacks taken.
Keeping Murray healthy without taking away what makes him dangerous as a dual-threat quarterback will be the challenge for coach Kevin O’Connell. There could be an opportunity for McCarthy to make this a true competition, but availability is also a concern for the 2024 first-round pick, and McCarthy completed only 57.6% of his passes in his 10 starts last season."
2025–Present: J.J. McCarthy / Kyler Murray / Max Brosmer
2024: Sam Darnold
2018–2023: Kirk Cousins
2017: Case Keenum
2016–2017: Sam Bradford
2014–2015: Teddy Bridgewater
2009–2010: Brett Favre
2000–2005: Daunte Culpepper
In the last 25 years of our lives, only KC/Culpepper have been able to bring consistency to the QB position...I am surprised at how angry I have become about them letting Darnold walk. I supported it at the time too.
I just hope K1 (or JJM) can bring an end to the insanity that plagues this franchise at the most important position in sports.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
Murray has never proven that he can be a consistently good pocket passer, which is what the OConnell offense is built upon, so again...why does everyone automatically think he's going to be some revelation in this offense and just going to automatically be "the guy?" I think McCarthy has the much higher ceiling to be the better pocket passer that this offense requires.
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