Former Viking Kyle Sloter on the Kyler Murray-J.J. McCarthy QB Battle
The Minnesota Vikings enter the 2026 season with one of the NFL’s most intriguing quarterback competitions. Second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy is battling veteran Kyler Murray for the starting job, and few people have a perspective quite like former Vikings quarterback Kyle Sloter.
Sloter, who played with the Vikings from 2017-2019 and then again in 2021, recently joined the Vikings Playbook Podcast to discuss the quarterback battle and training camp expectations from the eyes of a veteran who has done it with Minnesota and is known for some great preseason performances in purple.
Kyler Murray Has the Edge
Having briefly been teammates with Kyler Murray during his time with the Arizona Cardinals, Sloter has seen firsthand what the former No. 1 overall pick brings to the field.
While many fans are eager to see McCarthy take over the franchise, Sloter believes experience will ultimately win out.
“I think a starter will probably be named before, or at least after, that first preseason game,” Sloter explained. “I think Kyler Murray wins the job for a number of reasons.”
From Sloter’s perspective, the decision is as much about risk management as it is talent. He thinks Kyler Murray can spin the ball, and the competition will be about who can process information fast enough in this offense. How do I see the information at the millisecond level that leads to a half-second that leads to a touchdown or an interception? Slater said it is a gift you are born with, and J.J. McCarthy didn’t process information fast enough last year and wasn’t asked to do that at Michigan. Identifying the defense and knowing where to go with the ball are skills McCarthy needs to improve.
He went on to say that if you’re the head coach or general manager, it’s a lot easier to start Kyler Murray, the guy with eight years of NFL experience, than to hand the keys to someone still developing skill sets and with waning confidence as a starter.
That doesn’t mean the competition is over once a starter is named.
Sloter pointed out that Minnesota has the luxury of turning to J.J. McCarthy if Kyler Murray struggles or if the offense simply isn’t clicking under head coach Kevin O’Connell. It gives them flexibility that if Kyler isn’t playing well, you always have J.J. waiting in the wings.
Murray Is an Underrated Passer
One of Sloter’s strongest opinions centered around Murray’s abilities as a passer.
The former Vikings quarterback believes Kyler Murray is often labeled strictly as an athletic quarterback, even though his arm talent deserves far more recognition.
“Kyler is an underrated thrower of the football,” Sloter said.
Everyone knows about Murray’s mobility, but talking with Sloter, who believes his ability to deliver accurate throws from different arm angles and to create explosive plays through the air is often overshadowed by his running ability.
That combination of athleticism and passing ability is one reason many fans and media believe Murray could flourish under O’Connell’s offensive system.
McCarthy Leadership Growth
Sloter also discussed something fans rarely get to see—the evolution of leadership inside an NFL locker room. Having shared a locker room with Murray in a brief stint with the Arizona Cardinals, Sloter saw a young quarterback learning how to become more than just a talented player. He described Murray as someone working to mature not only as a quarterback, but as a professional and a leader.
Ironically, Sloter sees McCarthy navigating many of those same challenges today. Leadership doesn’t happen overnight, and every quarterback has to find his own voice. Sloter noted that McCarthy’s enthusiasm and energy are obvious strengths, but believes there is also a balance to strike.
At times, McCarthy’s leadership style can come across as “over the top,” and Sloter believes developing greater self-awareness will naturally come with experience. That’s simply part of the growth process every young franchise quarterback experiences, and the Vikings need that growth to shine on and off the field for McCarthy.
Could Murray Have a Sam Darnold-Like Revival?
Throughout the offseason, some national media have floated Kyler Murray as a potential MVP or Comeback Player of the Year candidate in 2026.
Sloter isn’t dismissing that possibility.
In fact, he believes Minnesota could provide the perfect environment for Kyler Murray to resurrect his career, much like Sam Darnold revitalized his. “I wouldn’t be surprised at all,” Sloter said.
With O’Connell’s quarterback-friendly offense, elite skill-position talent, and a strong supporting cast, Sloter believes Kyler Murray will have the opportunity to remind the league why he was once considered one of football’s brightest young stars.
Expect the Defense to Win Early
When training camp begins, Sloter expects one side of the football to have the advantage.
The defense.
That’s nothing unusual.
He explained that defenses typically enter camp further ahead because offensive units need time to build chemistry, particularly when working through protections and identifying complex blitz packages. Sloter expects Minnesota’s offense to spend the early weeks learning how to handle the variety of pressures defensive coordinator Brian Flores will undoubtedly throw at them.
Still, he believes fans should be looking for balance. You want explosive splash plays from both the offense and defense, but just as importantly, you want clean football with minimal mental mistakes.
Why Center Play Affects The QB More Than Fans Realize
One of the biggest concerns entering training camp is the offensive line.
Minnesota dealt with instability at center throughout last season, cycling through multiple players because of injuries. With Blake Brandel projected to take over the position in 2026, I asked Sloter just how much consistency at center impacts quarterback play.
His answer was simple.
“Quite a bit.”
Sloter explained that something as simple as hand size affects how a quarterback receives the football. Snap placement, timing, positioning, and countless repetitions all help establish trust between quarterback and center. When that continuity changes repeatedly, it creates challenges that most fans never notice.
It’s another reason Minnesota hopes its offensive line remains significantly healthier than it was a year ago.
Whether Murray ultimately wins the starting job as Sloter predicts or McCarthy accelerates his development and takes control of the offense, one thing is certain: the Vikings’ quarterback competition will be one of the biggest storylines to watch throughout training camp and the preseason.
