The Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback situation has landed in the kind of spot no team wants heading into a season: the job looks unsettled, and the name sitting at the front of the line is Kyler Murray.
After a 14-win year turned into a missed playoff run, the Vikings’ quarterback play is under a bright light, and that’s part of why J.J. McCarthy may not be viewed the same way he once was. According to ESPN insider Kevin Seifert, Murray is the overwhelming favorite to be under center in Week 1.
“Murray is the heavy favorite to win the job, but it's impossible to pull eyes away from any unsettled quarterback situation. In his previous seven NFL seasons, Murray has displayed the arm talent necessary to succeed in O'Connell's offense.
But how long will it take him to grow accustomed to what is admittedly a complex scheme, one that requires active eyes and patient feet in the pocket?” wrote Seifert.
That last part matters. Murray still has to show he can work under center more consistently, and that’s a major piece of Kevin O’Connell’s offense. He’s spent most of his career operating from the shotgun, so the adjustment isn’t a small one.
Even so, O’Connell has the kind of offensive mind that can shape a system around his quarterback. He can’t change Murray’s size, but he can tailor the scheme to fit what the former No. 1 pick does best.
As for McCarthy, the door may not be shut, but the current picture suggests he has a lot of ground to make up in Minnesota.
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