Because of the colossal intrigue, we saved quarterbacks for last in VikesNow‘s preview series. All eyes will be on Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks at training camp, and truth be told, it’s probably the most significant camp battle around the NFL. Kyler Murray always brings flair on his own, and folks want to see how J.J. McCarthy has improved over the offseason.
And, of course, don’t forget the other two passers; they matter, too. Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer.
The NFL’s Most Consequential QB Battle
Kyler Murray (QB)
When Murray could not get back onto the field in Arizona last year due to injury, rumblings began to suggest that he played his last down for the Cardinals. The rumblings were right. Arizona will now roll with Jacoby Brissett, Carson Beck, and Gardner Minshew, and through a brief and suspense-less free agency, Murray landed with the Vikings on a contract worth $1.3 million for one year (the rest is $36.8 million, paid for by Arizona).
That might be the best value in all major sports – – if Murray succeeds with the Vikings.
He brings a skill set worthy of the first overall pick in 2019, with the ability to scamper out of the backfield, throw the ball out of the stadium, and completion numbers that rank in the Top 5 of NFL history. In Arizona, the Cardinals reached the postseason just once on Murray’s watch, and the working theory suggests that he could partner with Brian Flores’s defense to really take off for the first time in his career from a team perspective.
Murray’s career-long EPA+CPOE (quarterback efficiency + wins added) is better than Baker Mayfield, C.J. Stroud, Trevor Lawrence, and Daniel Jones, among others. If you think Mayfield, Stroud, Lawrence, or Jones could cook within the Vikings offense, the numbers claim Murray can, too.
Every 17 starts, he averages just under 4,000 passing yards, about 600 rushing yards, and 30 total touchdowns. He’s also the overwhelming frontrunner to win the Vikings’ QB1 job, according to oddsmakers.
The drawback? Availability. Murray played only five games in 2025 and has missed 21 contests over the past three seasons. Minnesota cannot treat his health as a footnote after cycling through three starting quarterbacks last year.
J.J. McCarthy (QB)
McCarthy had a sweet-and-salty first year as the Vikings’ starter in 2025, struggling with basic functionality at times while turning on the jets in the 4th Quarter of games. His EPA+CPOE and DVOA numbers were wholly terrible, and of course, he became the main face of memes on social media. McCarthy finished his first starting season completing 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. His 72.6 passer rating ranked last among 33 qualifying quarterbacks, confirming that the growing pains extended well beyond internet memes.
What they don’t tell you about is his improvement down the stretch of 2025. From Week 14 to Week 18, McCarthy ranked sixth-best in the NFL per EPA/Play. He experienced growth – – exactly what folks hoped for but hardly credited after the fact.
McCarthy reportedly spent all offseason honing his mechanics, and for the most part, accepted the arrival of Murray with grace. He has a chance to a) win the starting quarterback job at training camp b) fill in admirably if Murray misses games due to injury c) show the Vikings enough to create a 2027 offseason quarterback debate.
Altogether, Minnesota controls McCarthy’s contractual rights for three more seasons if they choose. This summer will determine if he’s back as the Vikings QB1 – – meaning he scored the upset over Murray — or if the Vikings save him for a rainy day as the QB2.
Carson Wentz (QB)
Wentz saw starting action in five games last year, guiding Minnesota to a 2-3 record. He led the offense more smoothly than McCarthy, though he did not offer much more than a high-end QB2. There’s a reason no team signed Wentz until late last summer; he’s no longer a hot commodity.
For the 2026 Vikings, Wentz will fill the QB3 role, unless the loser of the quarterback battle unexpectedly requests a trade in August or September.
Wentz feels “ancient” in NFL speak, but he’s only 33.
Max Brosmer (QB)
Brosmer did not play well as a rookie in 2025. He should’ve been stashed deep on the bench or on the practice squad for development’s sake. Instead, he started two games and compiled a -0.434 EPA+CPOE, which is close to what someone’s grandmother would produce if you told her on a Saturday night that she would start for the Vikings on Sunday morning.
Minnesota is high on Brosmer, however, and so long as the Murray-McCarthy-Wentz trio holds through early September, Brosmer will likely be the sole Vikings quarterback on the practice squad and QB4 by default.
VikesNow Projection for QBs on 53-Man Roster:
QB1: Kyler Murray
QB2: J.J. McCarthy
QB3: Carson Wentz
PS: Max Brosmer
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VikesNow Verdict: The Vikings built their deepest quarterback room in years, but the roster’s ceiling still depends on Murray or McCarthy. Murray’s experience makes him the logical favorite, while McCarthy’s familiarity with the offense keeps the competition fair. Wentz supplies unusually credible QB3 insurance, and Brosmer remains a developmental project.
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