J.J. McCarthy

The Vikings signed two-time Pro Bowler Kyler Murray in March 2026, and per O'Connell and multiple insiders Murray is the heavy favorite to win the Week 1 job, leaving McCarthy as the presumptive QB2 with ground to make up in an 'open' competition.

McCarthy missed his entire 2024 rookie year (knee) and seven games in 2025 across three separate injuries — a high-ankle sprain (5 games), a concussion (1), and a season-ending hairline hand fracture — making durability a real, recurring concern for a young QB still proving himself.

If Murray stays healthy, McCarthy is stranded on the bench behind a one-year veteran in a contender's offense, capping his fantasy output near zero and freezing his development just as he needs reps.

Insiders (Pelissero, Pelissero-adjacent reports) have floated a McCarthy trade, with QB-needy teams like the Steelers, Browns, Chargers and Jets cited as landing spots — a move to a clean depth chart would restore a true path to QB1 snaps.

At 23 with elite draft pedigree (10th overall, 2024), McCarthy still sits in the QB value-appreciation window; one starting opportunity could re-ignite his dynasty stock quickly.