Vikings Quarterback Competition Heats Up as Preseason Approaches

Minnesota’s 2024 preseason training camp features a direct contest between veteran Kyler Murray—released by the Arizona Cardinals in the offseason—and rookie J.J. McCarthy. The Vikings will face the New York Giants in a preseason matchup that analysts expect to serve as an early indicator of which quarterback will earn the starting role. Coaching staff led by head coach Kevin O’Connell has emphasized evaluating both players through practices, meetings, and game-time performance before making a final decision.

Heavy

• Kyler Murray – Former Cardinals starter; career passer rating of 92.2, 20,460 passing yards, 121 touchdowns and 60 interceptions in 87 games (StatMuse).

Heavy

• J.J. McCarthy – Second-year quarterback praised for talent but with limited experience in high-visibility games.

Heavy

• Kevin O’Connell – Vikings head coach tasked with extracting Murray’s strengths while managing his known deficiencies.

Heavy

An NFL insider reported that Murray appears to be gaining an edge in the competition, a view echoed by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Heavy

Ian Rapoport, reporting for NFL Network, indicated that the organization is “viewing all the different checkpoints” and that Murray “has the advantage here” after being the team’s “hand-picked quarterback in free agency.” Rapoport also noted that the Vikings will continue to assess both quarterbacks through training-camp practices and preseason games before a starter is named.

Heavy

FS1 host Colin Cowherd offered a projection, suggesting Murray could post a passer rating near 99, improve his completion percentage to 68 %, and raise his touchdown-to-interception ratio to 3-to-1 in his first season with Minnesota.

Heavy

• “It feels like it’s leading Kyler Murray in Minnesota,” — Network’s Ian Rapoport

Heavy

• “J.J. McCarthy is a young, talented quarterback,” — Network’s Ian Rapoport

Heavy

• “I think Kyler Murray is going to go to Minnesota and he’s going to flourish—more stability, more money, better teammates,” — Prediction From Colin Cowherd

Heavy