J.J. McCarthy's first season as an NFL starting quarterback didn't go exactly as planned, and now it appears that the Vikings are ready to move on, at least to another starting quarterback.
Kyle Murray, the former No. 1 overall pick, who was released by the Arizona Cardinals recently, is expected to join the Minnesota Vikings, according to ESPN analyst Louis Riddick, who talked about what that could mean for the former Michigan football quarterback, McCarthy.
"It's over. It's over for J.J. [McCarthy]. ... I know [Minnesota] moved up to 10 to pick him, it's going to be time to move on from him," Riddick said on ESPN's SportsCenter.
Could the Minnesota Vikings move on from J.J. McCarthy?
It seems like Murray ending up with the Vikings is one of the biggest open secrets in the league. It makes perfect sense, given that Minnesota struggled with a veteran roster last season. McCarthy was part of that, although he was better than some gave him credit for.
The Michigan football legend missed seven games due to injury. He was also coming off a season-ending injury during his rookie season. So, Minnesota decided to roll with a young QB, who wasn't going to be at his best working his way back from injury anyway.
It certainly didn't put McCarthy in a position to succeed. He still had a 6-4 record as a starter. He did throw 12 interceptions compared to 11 touchdowns, but did have four rushing touchdowns.
Surely, McCarthy would have been better after a season under his belt.
However, if Murray signs with Minnesota, McCarthy's second chance at becoming a starter might happen somewhere else. It would be worth keeping him, since Murray is so injury-prone. It could also serve McCarthy's development to sit and watch for a season.
Either way, if Riddick is right, McCarthy won't be the Vikings' starting quarterback in 2026. He might not be on the roster that much longer, either.