The Athletic: KOC doubles down on himself

[pattersaur]

Trading JJM would be incredibly stupid.  Even if I were to believe that the Vikings were “done” with him after 10 games, and I were to believe that JJM had his feelings hurt and wants out, the idea of trading him is still stupid.  You’re basically buying high and selling low.  You’re taking a cheap rookie contract QB, trading them for peanuts and then what’s next?  Go get Anthony Richardson to be the backup?  Bring in Cousins to be the backup? And not improve them, because we all agreed that backups don’t get any reps for some reason.

Now you have Kyler as a one year rental, and you’ll have to make a decision on who the 2027 QB is and negotiate with them on the price.  What’s Kyler going to cost compared to like what the ghost of healthy Daniel Jones got?  In an ideal world, Kyler will be healthy for all 17 games, which would make him “healthy” for 2 of the last 5 seasons.  In a less idea world, Kyler gets hurt again, and you can’t invest in a guy long term who’s been significantly hurt in 80% of his last 5 seasons.  You traded JJM for a 3rd or something, so it’s not like you got a lot of extra draft capital to go get someone in 2027.  Also in this hypothetical scenario, JJM turns into year two Drake Maye and makes it to the SB with probably the Steelers or something.

Kyler has about $150M riding on this season and if they're both on the Vikings, hopefully a hungry JJM nipping at his heals. Unless he's forced to go on IR at some point, we'll probably see a remarkably gritty Kyler in 2026.

[MAD GAINZ]

What if we're all looking at this wrong?

There are reports that Kyler is looking to join a team that has a QB need in 2026 or 2027.

What if the Vikings are interested purely for insurance in case JJ McCarthy doesn't make a leap this year?

I mean we all know how different QBs have said KOCs offense is complex and it takes awhile to learn it and execute it. Wouldn't that give JJ McCarthy the upper hand at least initially?

What if the Vikings sign Kyler with the understanding that they want him to come in here to compete, learn the offense, and if he doesn't beat out JJ right away, he could have an opportunity if JJ falters or misses time with injury again this season.

Maybe the plan is to role with McCarthy, bring in a much better backup to push him and see how he responds? If he responds well and kicks ass, win. If he doesn't, they can turn to Murray and see how he does.

[JimmyinSD]

What if we're all looking at this wrong?

There are reports that Kyler is looking to join a team that has a QB need in 2026 or 2027. 

What if the Vikings are interested purely for insurance in case JJ McCarthy doesn't make a leap this year?

I mean we all know how different QBs have said KOCs offense is complex and it takes awhile to learn it and execute it.  Wouldn't that give JJ McCarthy the upper hand at least initially?

What if the Vikings sign Kyler with the understanding that they want him to come in here to compete, learn the offense, and if he doesn't beat out JJ right away, he could have an opportunity if JJ falters or misses time with injury again this season.

Maybe the plan is to role with McCarthy, bring in a much better backup to push him and see how he responds?  If he responds well and kicks ass, win.  If he doesn't, they can turn to Murray and see how he does.

look at you mr. optimistic! 

[StickierBuns]

What if we're all looking at this wrong?

There are reports that Kyler is looking to join a team that has a QB need in 2026 or 2027. 

What if the Vikings are interested purely for insurance in case JJ McCarthy doesn't make a leap this year?

I mean we all know how different QBs have said KOCs offense is complex and it takes awhile to learn it and execute it.  Wouldn't that give JJ McCarthy the upper hand at least initially?

What if the Vikings sign Kyler with the understanding that they want him to come in here to compete, learn the offense, and if he doesn't beat out JJ right away, he could have an opportunity if JJ falters or misses time with injury again this season.

Maybe the plan is to role with McCarthy, bring in a much better backup to push him and see how he responds?  If he responds well and kicks ass, win.  If he doesn't, they can turn to Murray and see how he does.

[BigAl99]

What if we're all looking at this wrong?

There are reports that Kyler is looking to join a team that has a QB need in 2026 or 2027. 

What if the Vikings are interested purely for insurance in case JJ McCarthy doesn't make a leap this year?

I mean we all know how different QBs have said KOCs offense is complex and it takes awhile to learn it and execute it.  Wouldn't that give JJ McCarthy the upper hand at least initially?

What if the Vikings sign Kyler with the understanding that they want him to come in here to compete, learn the offense, and if he doesn't beat out JJ right away, he could have an opportunity if JJ falters or misses time with injury again this season.

Maybe the plan is to role with McCarthy, bring in a much better backup to push him and see how he responds?  If he responds well and kicks ass, win.  If he doesn't, they can turn to Murray and see how he does.

I like this narrative, KM has been in a bad org. and this may appeal to him as segue or incremental step to getting things back on track, with little to no downside.  Look at 24 for Daniel Jones, he wasn't on the roster till he had to be so he was available for the playoffs.  It will also give me a better eye test for JJM's makeup as a player.  At 23 can his ego take finding out he has room to be better and look at it as an opportunity, where is head in all this.  It would be great to see his ego allow him to be patient with his learning curve, like Jefferson was last year.  If he gets butthurt, and can't deal with it how will the contract negotiations go down the line if he does have success. And this is all house money.

[Zanary]

What if we're all looking at this wrong?

There are reports that Kyler is looking to join a team that has a QB need in 2026 or 2027. 

What if the Vikings are interested purely for insurance in case JJ McCarthy doesn't make a leap this year?

I mean we all know how different QBs have said KOCs offense is complex and it takes awhile to learn it and execute it.  Wouldn't that give JJ McCarthy the upper hand at least initially?

What if the Vikings sign Kyler with the understanding that they want him to come in here to compete, learn the offense, and if he doesn't beat out JJ right away, he could have an opportunity if JJ falters or misses time with injury again this season.

Maybe the plan is to role with McCarthy, bring in a much better backup to push him and see how he responds?  If he responds well and kicks ass, win.  If he doesn't, they can turn to Murray and see how he does.

That's actually how I am looking at it, but I'm showing wear after weeks of unending Kyler headlines all over my sports sites. I was happy that KOC and Brez talked up JJM's early-offseason training, but I didn't like how long it took to hear from our embattled head coach, nor how politically nebulous his commentary was.

I will, however, laugh 'til I crack ribs (not mine, that'd be obviously insane!) if Tyler's visit ends up meaningless, and he wanders off to Pittsburgh or wherever.

[JimmyinSD]

That's actually how I am looking at it, but I'm showing wear after weeks of unending Kyler headlines all over my sports sites. I was happy that KOC and Brez talked up JJM's early-offseason training, but I didn't like how long it took to hear from our embattled head coach, nor how politically nebulous his commentary was.

I will, however, laugh 'til I crack ribs (not mine, that'd be obviously insane!) if Tyler's visit ends up meaningless, and he wanders off to Pittsburgh or wherever.

I would say the longer we go without hearing something that the more likely that will end up being the case.  if this was as done as some have implied I think they would have likely had some sort of leak or announcement by now.

[purplefaithful]

Well, I'll be the wet blanket I guess...

IF they sign Murray, JJM might have an inside track with the playbook for a few weeks or so...

But I have very little expectation that a 24 year old with 10 games played is going to win a TC comp vs a former #1 pick with 7 years under his belt (and training from KOC on top of it.)