Schefter: "Not ready to give up on JJM"
‘Not Ready To Just Give Up on J.J. McCarthy’ — NFL Insider Refuses To Crown Kyler Murray As Vikings’ QB1
Scott Long
J.J. McCarthy has had a tumultuous start to his NFL career. The 10th overall pick in the NFL Draft missed the entirety of his rookie season due to a knee injury, and struggled mightily in year two, causing many to doubt his future as a franchise quarterback.
The Minnesota Vikings brought in two-time Pro Bowler Kyler Murray in the offseason to compete for the starting quarterback job, leading many to believe it’s already Murray’s job and that McCarthy’s days in Minnesota may soon be numbered. However, NFL insider Adam Schefter believes that is not the case and encourages people to pump the brakes before writing off McCarthy.
Adam Schefter Doesn’t Believe that The NFL Has Heard the Last of J.J. McCarthy
“I know everybody is anointing Kyler, I’m not ready to just give up on J.J. McCarthy,” Schefter saidof the Vikings quarterback competition on ESPN’s “Get Up.”
“Kevin O’Connell has said it’s an open competition,” Schefter added. “Everybody expects Kyler to win that job; he probably will. But at some point in time, I think we’re going to hear something from J.J. McCarthy again. That’s just me, we’ll see.”
McCarthy has only played in 10 games through two seasons as the Vikings quarterback and has struggled to the tune of a 57.6% completion percentage, 1,632 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, while taking 27 sacks. He ranked as the No. 34 quarterback in PFN’s Quarterback Impact Metric (QBi).
However, despite all that, he is still only 23 years old, has won at the highest level in college, and has the pedigree that led to his selection in the top 10 of the NFL Draft. Despite struggling in the NFL, he led Minnesota to a 6-4 record in his starts and has shown flashes of athleticism, including 181 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns, that could make him dangerous if he can figure it out as a passer.
Meanwhile, Murray has shown much more at the NFL level, making two Pro Bowls and winning Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2019, but has struggled in his own right over the past two seasons. There are legitimate questions about his leadership, and for a player who relies on his athleticism, his age and injury history raise concerns about whether he can return to the player he once was.
While Schefter acknowledged that Murray should be the favorite given his track record, he believes too many people are writing off McCarthy entirely, which should not be the case.
“He was hurt his first year, he was hurt last year, the team had flaws,” Schefter added. “We’re living in a day and age where we see Daniel Jones bounce back, where we see Baker Mayfield bounce back, where we see Sam Darnold bounce back. And you’re telling me that a guy like Kevin O’Connell is already going to give up?”
Despite poor play from McCarthy and a myriad of other things going wrong for them in 2025, the Minnesota Vikings finished with a 9-8 record, in third place in the ultra-competitive NFC North, where every team had a record over .500. If Minnesota can get competent quarterback play in 2026, they can be a legitimate contender in the NFC.
The quarterback competition between Murray and McCarthy has been a major talking point all offseason. It is expected to be one of the most important storylines throughout training camp and the preseason.
Please God, just one Lombardi before I die.
I'm 100% with Sheftie on this one...
I think K1 starts the season and I dont believe JJM is done playing QB for the Vikings either.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
Shefter is also a University of Michigan alum. “The team had flaws” - yes we did with very poor QB play (outside of a few decent outings here and there) being one of the biggest but still managed to win 9 games.
So, neither QB will get the reps needed.
“Hell is empty and all the devils are here”
Shakespeare
JustInTime wrote:
https://twitter.com/vikingzfanpage/status/2079384699957354833So, neither QB will get the reps needed.
Or he wants to make sure he gets it right.
So what we 'hear' from the local X fanboys, the crappy Judds, the presumers like Alec from The Athletic and such of the world, is that its going to be over early, etc. The national guys, like Tom P. and Rap Sheet, are saying that this thing is going to the very bitter end of preseason/start of the season before QB1 is named.
So the questions are: how can this be/is it a 'real' competition and does it serve the eventual QB1 to split reps right up until Game 1? I'm asking....thoughts?
Simple answer is no, it doesn’t serve the eventual starter.
It hamstring's the eventual starter. Reps to build up timing will be missed. Rhythm needed will take longer. The longer the competition goes on the worse it will be for the eventual starter. Hopefully someone separates themselves by the time we scrimmage with the Ravens or those reps will be watered down too.
“Hell is empty and all the devils are here”
Shakespeare
Agree with Schefter. Yes, Kyler “probably” wins the job, but that it would be foolish for the Vikings to give up on JJ “entirely.” Like Daniel Jones, Mayfield and Darnold, JJ can have a 2nd life. The Vikings would be wise to own his rights when that happens. Young, cheap QBs with franchise potential are just too valuable to give up on so early.
Where I disagree is that this competition will go all the way up to the opener. Hard to see that happening, and I don’t think Schefter quite meant to suggest he has some kind of “inside info” that QB1 will not be determined until the opener. I don't think even Kevin O'Connell knows yet when it will be decided. I think people are reading too much into a comment that what was not meant to be taken literally. It was likely just an off-the-cuff comment to emphasize that this is truly a competition and not a symbolic one.
"The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it”
I don't think Schefter knows either, in fact he mentions that its just him spitballing. He's a U of M guy, loves JJ, so the bias is there....its obvious.
The much more interesting part of this thread is if the competition goes until late August/early September. I still lean against that possibility, but it seems to be catching some air very recently. If that's ends up being the case, then the reason for that would be to prop up JJ for QB1. Because splitting the reps until September really limits K1....he's got a new offense to learn, players to connect with, etc. Its sub optimal UNLESS its a real competition and this is strategizing for the long game: let the drafted franchise QB flex and take it over. Hard to say his teammates won't be rooting for him and it would validate it via competing. He'll have to prove it, but that was legitimately the plan all along. It would say to me that this whole thing was set up to light a fire under McCarthy and show those competitive teeth they think he has. Its short money paying Murray. Or the national media dipshits are clueless, which can't be discounted. You still elevate the QB room, which is the only thing KOC has ever said. Kyler is a one year rental and you can't worry about hurting his feelings if he comes up QB2.
I never considered it because I didn't believe this was a real competition. Its interesting. I still don't buy in 100% this thing goes that long, I'll have to see it. But if it goes past September 1st, its the only thing that makes sense. But it most certainly does NOT serve either competitor optimally: QB1 needs reps, reps, reps.
I honestly have no idea what purpose it serves. Teams don't split camp reps if they're serious about winning. Is Kevin O'Connell really that dumb? Could be.
But national media guys are all tools. 90% of what they write is p.r. for agents and teams. The other 10% is the scraps of actual info they get for being good puppies who sit, fetch and roll over when they're told to.
So I don't believe anything any of them say about this situation. I don't know how it benefits the team to keep the story alive but clearly they are doing just that. Maybe it assuages JJM's bruised ego. Maybe it's positioning him as a tradeable commodity. Or maybe they believe their own bullshit, it wouldn't be the first time.
This stuff is nuts lol, but necessary because many want to write off an excellent prospect way, way too early.
As far as true competition? I believe KOC when he says that. It’s just simply necessary leadership, this ain’t a video game, it’s real people with real feelings.
As some said from day 1, Murray was brought in because he was expected to be an upgrade and be the starter this year. How he performs to those expectations remains to be seen.
I'm ready to write him off. Just another journeyman back up stop gap clip board dude. Another swing and a miss for KAM.
The only thing I'll say is that I heard the team loved what they saw out of McCarthy when he was competing with Darnold his rookie year. Then coming off injury and not having any real competition last year... the team had a different feeling on where he was at and how he approached the off-season. Was it coming off a long lay off rehabbing the meniscus injury? Or did he get a little too comfortable being "the guy" without really earning it?
Hard to say, but it's clear the Murray signing lit a fire in JJ McCarthy. We might be seeing that same kid from his rookie year that was dialed in and had KOC proclaiming we had our franchise QB. Murray might still win the job, but getting a focused, improved JJ McCarthy is what this team needs long-term.
I just don't know how all of this couldn't be theater? Why would Murray sign here for what is essentially peanuts to go through a QB competition when he could have went to probably 10 other places and been insta-starter? He is going in to a final year before free agency and to risk sitting on the bench prior to that would be foolish. I have to believe that there was a wink and a nod somewhere to Murray saying you will start here and get a chance to work with KOC. Then you can look swell and make your millions in 27. What other scenario could it be? If they told him it was going to be a competition and he may not win, why wouldn't Murray take his toys to say Pittsburgh (Before Rogers re-signed) or Miami or a number of other teams that would give him starter guarantees?
Still Hurtn wrote:
I'm ready to write him off. Just another journeyman back up stop gap clip board dude. Another swing and a miss for KAM.
And here’s the thing, you could end up right about it, I just don’t see, and I think most would agree, enough evidence to conclude that he’s a bust, (which is what a 10th overall clip board holder would be)
Prospects need time to develop.
Vikesrock wrote:
I just don't know how all of this couldn't be theater? Why would Murray sign here for what is essentially peanuts to go through a QB competition when he could have went to probably 10 other places and been insta-starter? He is going in to a final year before free agency and to risk sitting on the bench prior to that would be foolish. I have to believe that there was a wink and a nod somewhere to Murray saying you will start here and get a chance to work with KOC. Then you can look swell and make your millions in 27. What other scenario could it be? If they told him it was going to be a competition and he may not win, why wouldn't Murray take his toys to say Pittsburgh (Before Rogers re-signed) or Miami or a number of other teams that would give him starter guarantees?
This is a really good point and brings a massive challenge to leadership on handling the issue and maintaining trust. If it’s me, I’m telling Murray while he’s holding the pen, the simple truth that we brought you in to, and expect you to win the job, but that great teams expect, even invite competition.
MAD GAINZ wrote:
The only thing I'll say is that I heard the team loved what they saw out of McCarthy when he was competing with Darnold his rookie year. Then coming off injury and not having any real competition last year... the team had a different feeling on where he was at and how he approached the off-season. Was it coming off a long lay off rehabbing the meniscus injury? Or did he get a little too comfortable being "the guy" without really earning it?
Hard to say, but it's clear the Murray signing lit a fire in JJ McCarthy. We might be seeing that same kid from his rookie year that was dialed in and had KOC proclaiming we had our franchise QB. Murray might still win the job, but getting a focused, improved JJ McCarthy is what this team needs long-term.
He did look good in that first preseason. I think people underestimate how much damage was done to JJ's development by missing his entire rookie season. I looked it up. In the modern era, it's never happened before where a highly drafted QB missed his entire rookie season due to injury. It's a special dig from the football gods that this only happened to the Vikings, and to the QB they drafted higher than any other QB in their history.
The closest is 2022 3rd rounder Matt Corrall who was injured in the preseason and missed the whole year, 2019 2nd rounder Drew Lock who was hurt in the preseason, but made it back by week 11. And JP Losman, who was drafted in the 1st round in 2004, then was hurt in training camp and missed all but the final four games. These QBs may not have been good even without the injuries, but it's interesting that none of them amounted to anything.
"The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it”
Vikesrock wrote:
I just don't know how all of this couldn't be theater? Why would Murray sign here for what is essentially peanuts to go through a QB competition when he could have went to probably 10 other places and been insta-starter? He is going in to a final year before free agency and to risk sitting on the bench prior to that would be foolish. I have to believe that there was a wink and a nod somewhere to Murray saying you will start here and get a chance to work with KOC. Then you can look swell and make your millions in 27. What other scenario could it be? If they told him it was going to be a competition and he may not win, why wouldn't Murray take his toys to say Pittsburgh (Before Rogers re-signed) or Miami or a number of other teams that would give him starter guarantees?
Mostly because it was the Vikings, QB heaven, Justin Jefferson, et al and the QB whisperer. I get to go there? And all I gotta do is beat out last year's 36th ranked QB? I don't think there needs to be a wink and a nod for 100 out of 100 QBs to make the same decision.
"The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it”
Put it to bed by Ravens Scrimmage...Ideally right after the NYG pre-season game.
Anything beyond that is diminishing returns imo.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
MaroonBells wrote:
Agree with Schefter. Yes, Kyler “probably” wins the job, but that it would be foolish for the Vikings to give up on JJ “entirely.” Like Daniel Jones, Mayfield and Darnold, JJ can have a 2nd life. The Vikings would be wise to own his rights when that happens. Young, cheap QBs with franchise potential are just too valuable to give up on so early.
Where I disagree is that this competition will go all the way up to the opener. Hard to see that happening, and I don’t think Schefter quite meant to suggest he has some kind of “inside info” that QB1 will not be determined until the opener. I don't think even Kevin O'Connell knows yet when it will be decided. I think people are reading too much into a comment that what was not meant to be taken literally. It was likely just an off-the-cuff comment to emphasize that this is truly a competition and not a symbolic one.
Forgot who said the same thing this morning on Sports Center. Said JJ is not out of the race and it will go longer than people believe. These big names are starting to come out and saying the same thing. I would guess they know something.
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