​  Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy faces a very pivotal year in 2026, his third season as a pro after Minnesota drafted him as the franchise quarterback solution in 2024. The club also has Kyler Murray in the mix to compete with McCarthy for the top job this summer, so much so that some have wondered if McCarthy has played his last game in Minnesota as a starter.According to ESPN, McCarthy has done no such thing — and he might even win the battle over Murray.Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy warms up during training camp practice in Eagan as preparations continued for the upcoming season. McCarthy took part in drills on August 2, 2024, while Minnesota evaluated the rookie quarterback during his first NFL camp and began building the offense around its future signal-caller. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.Dan Graziano: Don’t Rule McCarthy Out Just YetGraziano of ESPN sized up hot takes around the NFL this week, evaluating whether they were overreactions. Along the way, he chimed in on McCarthy’s future.“J.J. McCarthy has started his last game for the Vikings. Verdict: OVERREACTION. McCarthy could prove to be the better option in camp. If that happens, the players on the roster will see that and buy into the decision. You could make the case that the best outcome for the Vikings is for McCarthy to win the job and become the player they thought he could be when they moved up to draft him,” Graziano opined.“But even if that doesn’t happen in camp, Murray is far from a perfect solution, which is why the Cardinals are paying him $36 million this year to play for someone else. If McCarthy reacts to being thrust into a competition the way the Vikings hope he does, he could end up starting games for them this season.”The Vikings have not had a genuine quarterback battle in a long time; the stage is set for July and August.Graziano continued, “He’s also under contract for 2026, whereas Murray is not (and Murray’s contract includes a no-franchise tag provision). Sure, it’s possible Murray thrives in O’Connell’s offense while McCarthy crumbles.”“But either outcome is far from a sure thing. There’s a long way to go before the start of the 2026 season, let alone the end of it. And on some level at least, the Vikings hope there’s still a long way to go in McCarthy’s NFL story.”Some Momentum in the Battle?When the very first week of OTAs got underway, McCarthy turned heads with comments that some perceived as bizarre. He said welcoming Murray into the mix felt like a high school situation, while Murray offered a more diplomatic reply to the same question.Thereafter, when action actually translated to the field, McCarthy and Murray traded productive outings, with McCarthy even gaining momentum in a battle that most assume Murray will win. Murray threw some interceptions, an      ​Read More