The Minnesota Vikings are going to extend their quarterback competition into training camp, ideally with a starter named sooner rather than later. Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy needs to get all the work with the rest of the starting offense as soon as possible.
The overriding assumption is Murray will be named the starter, and there's no need to maintain a facade that suggests otherwise a day longer than head coach Kevin O'Connell deems "necessary."
Of course, that may mean we won't see a starting quarterback named until joint practices against the Baltimore Ravens, ahead of the preseason game between the two teams on August 22.
Minnesota Vikings analyst offers some thoughts on how QB dynamic could take shape
On a recent episode of "The Real Forno Show", Tyler Forness of AtoZ Sports talked about the Vikings' quarterback situation ahead of training camp. There are multiple ways it could play out, even with the assumption that Murray will be named the starter, and Forness had some interesting thoughts on that.
"You're going to have Carson Wentz as your QB2, and I think you're going to have Max Brosmer as your QB3. And my theory, right now, is that either Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy will be off the roster. And if he's not, I think that guy will be QB3."
Record scratch....what?
"The process of making that guy QB3 is simple. You don't have the immediate pressure of that guy breathing down your neck."
Forness' latter thought would mean Murray or McCarthy, whoever is the starter, won't have to look over their shoulder within a game. Wentz would be the, as Forness coined it, the "game-day backup," with Murray and McCarthy orchestrated around him on the depth chart as necessary.
Being the emergency No. 3 quarterback for games, even if being the starter is hypothetically a possibility the next week, wouldn't be ideal for the loser of the battle for the starting job. While McCarthy has made it clear he doesn't want to be traded, the depth chart dynamic Forness offered could change that.
The prospect of being made the QB3 on game day would, presumably, even more so not fly with Murray. Referring back to his initial theory about McCarthy or Murray's place on the roster if they're not the starter, Forness addressed that.
"My theory is this. If Kyler does not get the starting job, I think he’ll request a trade."
Murray signing with the Vikings likely came with a wink-nod promise he'd be the starting quarterback. Beating out McCarthy for the job was not (is not) going to be a Herculean task, with the burden on McCarthy to clearly show he should be the guy.
If Murray can't get it done, it will be a huge red flag for his career outlook. But he would also become a tradeable asset in a league that never has enough good quarterbacks.
The idea he'd ask to be moved upon losing the starting job is lurking in the background of the competition, and Forness brought it all the way into the light.
Add us as a preferred source on Google