Speculation Emerges of a J.J. McCarthy Mutiny if Vikings’ QB1 Battle Goes a Certain Way
In the end, J.J. McCarthy could be the best option for the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.
The soon-to-be third-year passer is going toe-to-toe with Kyler Murray, somebody who is widely viewed as the clear favorite to become the QB1. Murray, per the widespread consensus, is going to follow in Sam Darnold’s footsteps as a veteran to be reinvigorated by the Kevin O’Connell school of passing competently. If so, what does that mean for Minnesota and Mr. McCarthy?
On J.J. McCarthy, Kyler Murray, & a MIN Mutiny
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk spilled some digital ink on the topic. Never one to mince words, Florio openly explores the possibility of a mutiny in Minnesota if things go a certain way.
“Yes, McCarthy has said he wants to be in Minnesota. What a guy says during the competition could be very different from what he’ll say after he loses it. Especially if he feels like he didn’t get a fair shake,” Florio writes.
The PFT piece continues: “It becomes a problem if other players share his viewpoint. If McCarthy is performing better in training camp practices but Murray gets the job, the locker room could murmur and rumble and ultimately revolt. Removing McCarthy from the equation could be in the best interests of getting everyone behind Murray.”
Step back from the possible mutiny for a moment.
The best bet as of June of 2026 remains that Kyler Murray will start. At 29 (soon), Murray is in the middle of his career. He went No. 1 overall due to having a dynamite arm and electric speed, meaning he boasts a pile of explosiveness. Better yet, Murray is unusually accurate, completing a very impressive 67.1% of his passes.
J.J. McCarthy, in contrast, completed 57.6% of his passes last year. No doubt, the kid did deserve better, but even adjusting means seeing somebody who was way too inaccurate.
A critical caveat nevertheless needs to be shoehorned into the mix: the J.J. McCarthy of June isn’t the same J.J. McCarthy of July, August, September, and so on. How much progress can the young fella make in the coming weeks and months?
Roughly six years separate the two passers. Both are getting better, but there’s more meat left on the bone when it comes to the 23-year-old McCarthy. He’ll therefore look to take two or three steps for every step Murray takes.
The Michigan alumnus has already become a better football player. Undoubtedly, he will continue to improve; nobody doubts his talent and work ethic. What is still up for debate is whether McCarthy’s improvement is great enough to be the passer most worthy of maintaining his starting spot.
But therein lies the key, folks: J.J. McCarthy proving to be better but still being the QB2 anyhow. That’s the scenario that gets brought to the fore in the Florio piece on PFT.
Without question, McCarthy is a well-liked player. He’s an elite talent taken at an elite draft slot who acts like a 4th-line grinder who constantly needs to earn the respect of his teammates. That means something. People want to follow the kid, which is a sneaky part of being a top quarterback.
Much more to come, especially with training camp not yet here.
