The Minnesota Vikings will let J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray battle it out in a QB competition to determine the team’s starter. After a rollercoaster Year 2, McCarthy will need to earn the starting job while Murray looks to bounce back after the Arizona Cardinals cut ties with him this offseason.
Many expect Murray to win the QB battle, given his NFL experience and track record as a capable starter. However, the 28-year-old is having to learn a new offense, which could give McCarthy the upper hand as he’s been in Kevin O’Connell’s system for three years now.
Nonetheless, if Murray can pick up O’Connell’s offense, then it might tilt heavily toward the former No. 1 pick winning the job. Before the competition between the two players begins, former Vikings QB Warren Moon shared a clear message for Murray.
“He hasn’t played up to those expectations every year, but he has dealt with injuries during his first few years in the league, and that hasn’t helped,” Moon said during the May 18 edition of “Up & Adams.”
“He also hasn’t had the best supporting cast around him in Arizona, especially on the offensive line. So I don’t think he has any excuses with this Minnesota team. This team is ready to go defensively, and offensively, it has the weapons…
“I hope he’s learned over the last couple of years, with all the criticism he’s taken and the injuries he’s gone through, that he has to give more of himself to his football team. He has to show people more about what he’s feeling and thinking. You have to do that as a quarterback in order to get people to follow you.”
Kyler Murray Has to Go Out and Win Vikings Starting QB Job
Despite Moon being direct with Murray, the Hall of Fame QB thinks highly of the Vikings’ new signal-caller. The former Cardinals star can be a major difference maker for Minnesota to get back into the playoffs this upcoming season and potentially go on a deep run.
Nonetheless, even with all of Murray’s talent, Moon states that Murray needs to go out and earn the job with McCarthy looking over his shoulder.
“[Murray] is so dynamic,” Moon added. “He makes so many plays that you go, ‘Wow.’ And then, all of a sudden, he goes through phases where he doesn’t even look like the same guy. I hope that coming into this situation, he’s re-motivated to show what he can do.
“He’s been out of the game for a while with injury. He’s going to a great place, a great coaching staff [and] he has really excellent weapons to throw the football to. It’s all in his possession if he wants it. But J.J. McCarthy is right there, too. I don’t think he’s going to make it easy.”
Kay Adams Doesn’t Hold Back on Kyler Murray
Moreover, the host of “Up & Adams,” Kay Adams, has reservations over Murray due to one major concerning factor that the Vikings QB has shown at times during his NFL career.
“He’s truly the most frustrating QB,” Adams said. “… When you watch him, he has the talent to be better than every quarterback, all the ones we’ve talked about, the ones that have rings, the ones that don’t have them, and the ones coming up. His raw talent is better than anyone’s. The fact that I have Warren Moon gracing my presence and telling me, ‘I hope he’s motivated.’ I don’t want to have to motivate my quarterback.”
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