Kyler Murray facing big roadblock to win Vikings' QB1 job

Quarterback Kyler Murray. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Kyler Murray facing big roadblock to win Vikings' QB1 job

By Ernesto Cova | Last updated Jul 18, 2026 12:09 PM ET

The Minnesota Vikings may not love what they saw from J.J. McCarthy last season.

They didn't waste time finding a potential veteran replacement, signing Kyler Murray almost immediately after his release from the Arizona Cardinals.

Nevertheless, contrary to speculation, he hasn't won the starting quarterback job yet. Head coach Kevin O'Connell has him splitting first-team reps with McCarthy, and no one seems to have a clear edge right now.

According to ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell, that situation may not change any time soon. Talking on "NFL Live," he argued that despite being a veteran, Murray still has to make a crucial adjustment to give the Vikings what they need, as he doesn't have much experience playing under center.

Vikings want to be an under-center offense

“But I feel pretty confident they want to be an under-center offense,” Barnwell said. “They’ve been under center 47 percent of the time under Kevin O’Connell. Kyler Murray, in Arizona, hasn’t been under center very often, only about 5 percent of the time.”

"I don't think Kyler Murray can just drop into the same offense they've run in years past and succeed."

—@billbarnwell on Murray's fit in Minnesota pic.twitter.com/owYOINrDAu
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) July 17, 2026

Murray is extremely talented, and his ability to roll out of the pocket and extend plays with his legs has always been one of his best traits.

That said, he does have some physical limitations because of his height, and that might also take a toll on his ability to be efficient under center:

“That’s by design because Kyler isn’t the biggest guy. He’s operated out of the shotgun and the pistol dating back to his time in college. He can see the field more easily, and it’s easier to get him involved in the quarterback run game. That’s what’s worked for him,” Barnwell explained.

Murray should still be the favorite to be the starter by Week 1, but he still has some catching up to do to prove that he can be what this team needs.

Moreover, even if he beats McCarthy for the job, it feels like the Vikings' quarterback situation will be a talking point all through the season.

Ernesto Cova

Ernesto is a bilingual (English-Spanish) sports writer with over eight years of experience covering major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Ernesto’s work focuses on providing insightful, up-to-date coverage of sports, blending his expertise in sports psychology with a passion for analyzing player performance, team dynamics, and trade developments across various sports leagues

More must-reads: