The Minnesota Vikings‘ quarterback competition is over.

Kyler Murray has won the starting job over 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy after a battle for the gig in training camp, according to a report from ESPN. Murray, 29, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and joined the Vikings this offseason one day after his release from the Arizona Cardinals in March.

McCarthy, 23, was the No. 10 pick in the 2024 Draft. He missed all of his rookie season in 2024 with a knee injury he sustained in the preseason, and he missed seven games in 2025 with a high ankle sprain and hand injury.

When McCarthy was healthy, he still struggled in his 10 starts in 2025.

Between McCarthy’s injury issues and on-field struggles, the Vikings had reason to pursue a veteran quarterback like Murray to compete for the starting job. Now, the veteran has won the job, leaving McCarthy’s NFL future uncertain.

Vikings QB depth chart

According to ESPN, Murray will start the season as the Vikings’ QB1. Here’s how the depth chart will likely shake out with that being the case:

• Kyler Murray
• J.J. McCarthy
• Carson Wentz
• Max Brosmer

In addition to signing Murray this offseason to compete for the starting job, the Vikings also re-signed Wentz, who served as McCarthy’s backup in 2025. The former No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft started five games last year while McCarthy missed time with injury, leading the team to a 2-3 record before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 8.

Brosmer signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent last year and appeared in seven games. He started twice after Wentz’s injury and went 1-1 in those starts.

Kyler Murray contract

The deal Murray signed with the Vikings this offseason was for the veteran’s minimum. In 2026, the veteran minimum for players with at least seven years of pro experience is $1.3 million.

• Term: One year
• Total value: $1.3 million
• Average annual value (AAV): $1.3 million
• Guaranteed money: $0

Murray will play out this season with the Vikings paying his backup more money. McCarthy is due $1.1 million in base salary and $1.7 million from a roster bonus, according to Spotrac.

Part of why the Vikings were able to sign Murray for the vet minimum is that the Cardinals owe their former No. 1 overall pick $36.8 million for the 2026 season, according to Over The Cap, to pay out the guarantees on his 2022 extension.

According to Over The Cap, Murray is responsible for a $46.6 million dead cap charge on Arizona’s books for 2026 and $7.2 million in dead cap for 2027.

What does this mean for J.J. McCarthy?

McCarthy’s time in Minnesota is likely running out. Though the Vikings’ commitment to Murray is only officially for the 2026 season, the decision to name the more veteran signal-caller the starter is a sign the team may be moving on from McCarthy.

The question that remains is whether Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell and new general manager Nolan Teasley envision keeping McCarthy around as a backup or if they will let him seek opportunities elsewhere. With Wentz on a one-year, $3 million contract with the Vikings, it’s plausible that the team would prefer to retain the former Eagles quarterback as the QB2 behind Murray.

Given that McCarthy competed for the starting job in training camp, he’ll remain as the No. 2 quarterback on Minnesota’s depth chart for the time being. How the Vikings choose to deploy him (and Wentz) during their three preseason games could offer insight into their future plans for the former No. 10 overall pick.

As for what could come next, McCarthy could end up with one of several teams around the league with an aging starter and no clear succession plan.

The Steelers, who know their quarterback will retire after the season, have two young signal-callers (Will Howard, Drew Allar) in-house, but neither has appeared in an NFL game yet. The Jets reunited with Geno Smith in the offseason, but he’s a free agent after this year. Backup Brady Cook did not impress in a limited showing in 2025, and fourth-round rookie Cade Klubnik obviously also still needs to make his pro debut.

The Dallas Cowboys could be a sleeper pick for McCarthy as well. In recent years, owner/general manager Jerry Jones has acquired multiple backup quarterbacks that failed to catch on in previous stops. There was a trade for Trey Lance in 2023, a trade for Joe Milton in 2025, and the Cowboys signed former Commanders starter Sam Howell this past offseason.

This story has been updated.