ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio said after a discussion with Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell that the team is “unlikely” to name a QB1 before the start of training camp.

03 April 2026

The battle for QB1 will be between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy, with Florio believing the competition between the two will “commence during preseason practices and games.” This doesn’t come as much of a surprise, but it lays to rest any assumptions that Murray will walk in as the unquestioned starter before camp. While we would expect Murray to ultimately win the job in runaway fashion, it sounds like McCarthy will be given every chance to prove he’s still the man for the job and a player worthy of the No. 10 overall pick the team used on him in 2024.