Has JJM's new found "touch" made the decision for QB1 more difficult?
J.J. McCarthy's Touch With the Football Improved in 'Major Way'
If J.J. McCarthy can layer the football and avoid throwing mostly fastballs, maybe he can give Kyler Murray a run for his money in training camp.
Joe Nelson|Jun 19, 2026
J.J. McCarthy during a June 2026 OTA practice in Eagan, Minnesota. | Image courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings (Alli Rusco)
What's holding up the Vikings from naming the starting quarterback?
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Vikings want to see Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy working in pads during training camp before settling on the starter. That said, Fowler says most people believe Murray will win the job.
"The way the Vikings see it is, 'Hey, we weren't in pads, there wasn't a lot of hitting or contact. Let's get to camp, see how this goes.' And whether [head coach Kevin O'Connell] lets that competition go into the preseason games will be based on feel," Fowler said Friday on SportsCenter.
"Most people around the league I've spoken to do believe at the end of the day Kyler Murray will win this job. Keep in mind, with J.J. McCarthy, though, the Vikings asked him to fix some things, including to layer the ball, throw at different speeds. I'm told he's addressed that in a major way, and it has shown."
The ability to layer the football instead of throwing nothing but fastballs is clearly a must for McCarthy or any quarterback in the NFL. While he struggled to do it in his first 10 career starts last season, it certainly sounds like the work he did in California with a QB guru has led to improvements.
"Being a young quarterback in this league and having a year under his belt, you get to learn a couple things," Minnesota wide receiver Justin Jefferson said earlier this month. "You get to learn how to be a professional. How to take care of your body. How to take care of your arm, and obviously, how to take care of your mind. So, I feel like he's definitely gotten a little bit smarter in reading the different coverages, understanding the different throws he's making. Everything doesn't have to be 100 miles per hour; some throws you can put a little touch on them and get it to the spot. That is one of his most impactful improvements that he has made."
Murray is definitely the frontrunner to be named QB1, but maybe McCarthy can make O'Connell's decision more difficult than anyone originally thought he could. If that's the case, the Vikings would be wise to hold onto McCarthy all season as a backup plan in case Murray bolts in free agency when the 2027 NFL league year begins next March.
Please God, just one Lombardi before I die.
Guess it will be a good thing for the Vikings if both play well and make it a difficult decision. But then next year the decision will be hard to get right. If the older, more experienced but also injury prone Murray lights it up, do we sign him long term and let JJM walk? Or if JJ has success in limited opportunities this year, do we move forward with him and let Murray walk?
greediron wrote:
Guess it will be a good thing for the Vikings if both play well and make it a difficult decision. But then next year the decision will be hard to get right. If the older, more experienced but also injury prone Murray lights it up, do we sign him long term and let JJM walk? Or if JJ has success in limited opportunities this year, do we move forward with him and let Murray walk?
The more time I have think about this, the more concerned I get with this competition as it pertains to what it might mean for the Viking's near term future. Is the outcome when its all said and done another hard decision? One where if you get it wrong, you let a really good talent leave the team and watch that person flourish elsewhere? I hope this doesn't end up doing the opposite of what is intended. We'll see....
And I would say its a bit overblown at this point how much JJ may have 'improved'.....no way to know until the bullets are live really. Its just OTAs.
#Vikings rookies will report to Minnesota for training camp on July 26th, with veterans returning on July 28th.
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) June 22, 2026
A little over a month away until football returns. pic.twitter.com/tOj4wvGL42
StickierBuns wrote:
The more time I have think about this, the more concerned I get with this competition as it pertains to what it might mean for the Viking's near term future. Is the outcome when its all said and done another hard decision? One where if you get it wrong, you let a really good talent leave the team and watch that person flourish elsewhere? I hope this doesn't end up doing the opposite of what is intended. We'll see....
And I would say its a bit overblown at this point how much JJ may have 'improved'.....no way to know until the bullets are live really. Its just OTAs.
https://x.com/vikingzfanpage/status/2069089607929528813
Exactly. And will we make the wrong decision to make sure we don't repeat the Darnold decision? Despite the fact that Darnold would have struggled mightily with our 2025 offensive line issues.
I still hold hope that JJM takes the job, either in TC or midseason and runs away with it. That way we have a young franchise QB we drafted that can be our QB for a long time. I don't trust Murray. His game is too dependent on off-schedule plays and the running QBs just don't survive in the NFL.
Wasn't it around this time last year when we started seeing first hand and hearing how much Drake Maye and Caleb Williams improved from their rookie seasons? They were the #1 and #3 picks in the same draft and they were/are still learning and figuring things out, with perfect health and full reigns in both offseasons and regular seasons their rookie years. That is the natural progression for QBs as there is a lot to learn and understand, adjust, develop, and adapt to, in the NFL to college.
This is why it boggles my mind that so many have given up on this kid and that he most likely won't get a chance to show his improvement/development this season unless Kyler gets hurt.
it's easy to work on your throwing and layering the ball when you are in a no touch red jersey during OTAs. That is a long way from doing it during live games.
People sleep peacably at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
rf54 wrote:
it's easy to work on your throwing and layering the ball when you are in a no touch red jersey during OTAs. That is a long way from doing it during live games.
Agreed, but its the same thing with Kyler's weakness's.
It'll be interesting to hear how KOC tries to balance putting his QBs under pressure but protecting them from injury.
rf54 wrote:
it's easy to work on your throwing and layering the ball when you are in a no touch red jersey during OTAs. That is a long way from doing it during live games.
Right?!
Whether it's how well K1 knows the playbook or how JJM can layer a pass, it's all just BS till the bullets start flying.
Going to be a long while till training camp, lots to endure from the press.
medaille wrote:
Agreed, but its the same thing with Kyler's weakness's.
It'll be interesting to hear how KOC tries to balance putting his QBs under pressure but protecting them from injury.
BFlo willl send the kitchen sink at those guys day 1 of camp is my prediction...
It's the test KOC and Teasley need to see; who can they rely on at QB1 come GB opener.
Now how much he plays QB1 in a pre-season game? I would guess no more than a series.
I also think QB1 will be decided sooner than later in camp.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
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