The Minnesota Vikings are entering a pivotal training camp with a new general manager and a quarterback competition that could reshape the franchise. Last season’s decision to hand the keys to J.J. McCarthy — a second-year signal-caller with zero regular-season snaps — backfired so badly that Sam Darnold, the guy they dumped, went to Seattle and won a Super Bowl. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah lost his job. The lesson? Don’t bet your season on an unproven quarterback.
So the Vikings went out and traded for Kyler Murray. The former Cardinals star brings a 67.1% career completion rate, a 121-to-60 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and the kind of athleticism that lets him escape pressure that would bury most pocket passers. Health has been the main concern — he missed time in two of the last three seasons — but he’s healthy now. And the early betting lines already favor him to beat out McCarthy for the starting job.
That doesn’t mean it’s a slam dunk. McCarthy has been in Kevin O’Connell’s system for a year. He knows the terminology, the reads, the rhythm of the offense. Murray will have to prove he can adapt to O’Connell’s demands during camp and preseason games. But the incumbent quarterback also had a problem that became impossible to ignore last season: he couldn’t consistently connect with Justin Jefferson. Multiple times when Jefferson was open deep, McCarthy’s throws were off target. For a coach entering his fifth season — and possibly coaching for his job — that’s a dealbreaker.
If Murray wins the job cleanly, the Vikings have a real decision to make on McCarthy. They used the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 draft on him. That’s not backup money or backup expectations. McCarthy won a national championship at Michigan. He’s not built for patience. If he gets beaten out decisively, new GM Nolan Teasley might look to move him. If no acceptable trade materializes, McCarthy’s time in Minnesota could end sooner than anyone expected.
The quarterback room also includes veteran Carson Wentz and second-year QB Max Brosmer, which gives the Vikings some depth if they do move McCarthy. But the bigger story might be on the other side of the ball, where a fan favorite could be running out of rope.
Ivan Pace’s Roster Spot Is in Real Danger
Linebacker Ivan Pace was one of those undrafted free-agent stories that everyone loves. Signed out of Miami-Ohio in 2023, he showed up to camp as a 5-foot-10, 236-pound missile. He made the roster, started 11 games as a rookie, and put up 102 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 9 quarterback hits. He was all over the field.
But production has slipped each season since. In 2024 he had 72 tackles while starting 10 games. Last year he started just six games and finished with 62 tackles and one sack. Now he’s listed as the backup behind Eric Wilson at weakside linebacker. The Vikings have undrafted rookies Bangally Kamara and Keli Lawson behind him. If either of those guys flashes the way Pace did three years ago, Pace’s roster spot is in serious trouble.
Money is also a factor. Pace made $905,000 per year for his first three seasons. This year he’s scheduled to make $3.5 million. That’s a jump, and the Vikings might decide that cash is better spent elsewhere — especially if a younger, cheaper option shows up in camp.
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