​J.J. McCarthy may turn into something memorable in quarterback-speak down the line, but his time with the Minnesota Vikings is over, according to Fox Sports‘ Colin Cowherd. The vociferously opinionated analyst has been low on McCarthy since the 2024 NFL Draft, and his comments last week were merely a continuation of that trend.McCarthy will face Kyler Murray in a quarterback competition at the end of the month, with Cowherd claiming that duel is basically already over.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMinnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy takes snaps against Las Vegas during his first preseason appearance, directing the offense as Minnesota evaluates its new passer. In August 2024, McCarthy suffers a meniscus tear during the game, ending his rookie season before it begins and leaving Sam Darnold to handle the starting job for Minnesota. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.Cowherd on McCarthyCowherd said on his show Friday, “They don’t want J.J. McCarthy to be a bust, but he’s a miss. That doesn’t mean he can’t go somewhere else and succeed. Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold went elsewhere and found success, but the difference is the Vikings are a well-run organization with a great coach and a great defensive coordinator, and it’s not working.”“Kyler Murray is going to work here. He’s not going to work as well as Sam Darnold because he’s not as good as Sam Darnold, but Kyler Murray is going to win the job because he’s going to own the locker room. The players think he’s more talented. J.J. McCarthy may flourish elsewhere, but when you go to a solid organization, and it doesn’t work after two or three years, it’s not going to work.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAt least Cowherd is high on Murray; it’s not all doomsday for the Vikings.Cowherd continued, “This is not the Jets. Eventually, even if you have a rocky start, you find your way in this league pretty quickly. And I think with J.J. McCarthy, I’m not rooting against him.”“I think he could find another organization, maybe like Arizona someday, but it’s not working because Minnesota is well run. Competition at quarterback in the NFL is nonsense. Nobody buys into that.”The Discussion on McCarthy Is So BinaryFor some Vikings fans, the ongoing quarterback competition has prematurely become a referendum on McCarthy’s career.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhile losing the starting role to Murray would be a setback — particularly given McCarthy began last season as Minnesota’s starter — he would remain under contract with the Vikings for three more years, allowing time for development.Murray’s current contract is for only one season, meaning Minnesota could be seeking another long-term solution as early as next spring. McCarthy could still fulfill that role. The Vikings drafted McCarthy based on his perceived long-term potential. A single disappointing summer would not negate that evaluation or preclude him from future oppor