Jettas looks forward to QB competition
The Minnesota Vikings signed Kyler Murray in free agency to compete with 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy ahead of the 2026 NFL season.
Veteran wide receiver Justin Jefferson is among those excited to see how the competition between the two unfolds.
Jefferson was asked during a May 15 appearance on "Good Morning Football" what he wanted to see from Minnesota's quarterback battle in the lead-up to the 2026 NFL season.
"Just competition, for real," Jefferson said. "Just to see, who's gonna be that last man standing? Who's gonna be that dog? Who's gonna be that leader to carry us throughout the season? Because that is definitely a missing piece that we're looking for and something that is very important to our team, which is the quarterback spot.
"So just seeing that competition, battle – seeing those guys come in every day leading the team and trying to spark, especially the offense, it's definitely something I'm looking forward to. And just going out there and connecting with any quarterback that's throwing the ball, that's the main important thing this training camp."
Jefferson had trouble consistently connecting with the Vikings' quarterbacks – a group that was led by McCarthy – in 2025. He totaled a respectable 84 catches for 1,048 yards, but his 61.6 yards per game and two touchdowns were far and away the lowest marks of his career.
That's why Jefferson – who thrived working with Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold across the first five seasons of his career – is hoping either McCarthy or Murray can emerge as a franchise quarterback for the team.
"That's definitely something that is… I want that, for sure," Jefferson said, referencing a franchise quarterback. "It's definitely difficult for those types of things to happen. But just like me being with Kirk for those first four years of my career, just building on that connection, building on that relationship, that's something that is unbroken, that's something you just don't find just anywhere.
"It definitely will be great to have a quarterback, the same quarterback for these next couple years going down the line, but you already know that's something difficult to do in this league. But for sure, to keep knowing that quarterback for these next couple years and build that relationship and create that spark, that's definitely the plan."
Murray only signed with the Vikings to a one-year, veteran minimum contract. If he emerges as the top option for Minnesota, the team will likely need to sign him to a lucrative, long-term extension.
Meanwhile, McCarthy is in the third season of his four-year rookie contract, so he will be cost-controlled through the 2027 campaign. The Vikings will also have to decide whether to accept the Michigan product's fifth-year option after the 2026 season.
USA Today
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
IceRatz16 wrote:
I’m not questioning Kyler’s age. I’m questioning durability and how much wear those legs have already taken.
Since 2015, most of his injuries have involved his lower body like hamstrings, ankle, knee, foot, etc. For a QB whose game is heavily tied to mobility and escapability, that absolutely matters long term.
And regarding the throwing comments, I’m simply giving my opinion from watching him over the years, but also I'll provide backup data to support my viewpoint. A lot of his deep balls hang in the air and feel like opportunities for DBs that somehow don’t always get punished.
From 2022–2025, Kyler’s deep-ball numbers reportedly fell near the bottom of the league among qualifying QBs in both accuracy and completion percentage on throws of 20+ yards. Kyler Murray ranks poorly in deep passing, being #39 in accuracy and #38 in completion rate among 42 qualifying quarterbacks for passes over 20 yards. His struggles continued with a completion rate of just 21% on 25+ yard passes, ranking him last among qualifying quarterbacks. Darnold was actually 1st overall for QBs last season in Seattle with 73.3% completion downfield of 20+ yards and 3rd overall in MN the year prior with 56.5% of completion rate of 20+ yards. See expanded details below, with a like to a nice chart showing Murray far lower than both Cousins and Darnold in what I'm referring to throwing downfield.
Meanwhile, Kirk Cousins has consistently been one of the better downfield passers in the league. In 2025, Cousins completed over 61% of his throws traveling 20+ yards downfield, ranking near the top of the NFL in that category.
Kyler’s overall completion percentage is good, no argument there. But completion percentage alone doesn’t automatically equal elite downfield accuracy or ball placement, which is something in KO's offense that will be necessary. A lot of that is influenced by depth of target, scheme, and reliance on shorter throws. Even Kyler supporters have pointed out his lower average depth of target compared to QBs in KOC’s system.
This link will highlight the stats I was referring to, but it also supports my comments about Kyler's legs:
https://www.sharpfootballanalysis.com/analysis/kyler-murray-deep-ball-stats-trade-analysis-2026/
On passes 20+ yards downfield, out of 42 qualifying QBs, Murray ranked #39 in accuracy and #38 in completion rate.
Let’s examine Murray’s NFL rank over the last four years by depth.
On 25+ yard passes, Murray ranks:
#36 of 36 in completion rate (21%)
#36 of 36 in EPA/attempt (-0.18)
#36 of 36 in Y/A (7.5)
How about 20+ yards downfield?
Murray ranks:
#40 of 46 in completion rate (30%)
#45 of 46 in EPA/attempt (-0.16)
#42 of 46 in Y/A (8.7)
How about 15+ yards downfield?
Murray ranks:
#42 of 51 in completion rate (38%)
#51 of 51 in EPA/attempt (+0.05)
#47 of 51 in Y/A (9.3)
As I always say, I love perspective.
Not sure anyone can say with a straight face that KM is an accurate, stand-in-the pocket passer: its not what he does. His accuracy percentage is elevated because he usually throws short passes to TEs, slot WRers and RBs. That doesn't mean he can't or won't be successful in Minnesota, what its saying it won't be the way Uncle Sammy or Kirk Cousins did it. He's got a really good surround now so hopefully that's meaningful to a success formula for Murray as a Viking. But him being here is no guarantee of anything, no matter how athletic and nimble he is. Fans are right to have questions. And also its right to have optimism as well. But those that think last year's team suffered 100% because of QB play aren't correct, injuries also played into it. So whomever QB1 ends up being, it'll be a better team surrounding that QB.
Well, its sure as hell going to be interesting to watch it unfold.....looking forward to seeing it right out of the gate live at U.S. Bank against the hated Packers.
purplefaithful wrote:
The only stats that matter now are how he performs here with this surround going forward...He's usually not had this level of coaching, this good of a D or this quality/depth of WR's.
Like I said before, we'll see...It's a pretty talented locker room and I hope he or JJM can take the reins and run with this thing.
^ This x 100
“Hell is empty and all the devils are here”
Shakespeare
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