Vikings Qb J.j. Mccarthy Dispels Notion That He'd Want Trade Before Season: 'this Is Where I Want To Be'

Whereas Kyler Murray won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year with the Arizona Cardinals in 2019, J.J. McCarthy's rookie season was wiped out by the torn right meniscus he suffered in the preseason after the Minnesota Vikings drafted him 10th overall in 2024. Murray is a two-time Pro Bowl quarterback who was the face of a franchise for the better part of seven years. McCarthy, less than a year removed from dealing with additional injury trouble and throwing more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (11), is still trying to prove he's an NFL starter.

This offseason, the Vikings signed Murray to a one-year deal, reportedly on the veteran minimum, and the former Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 pick has embraced his fresh start.

Albeit in a need of a rebound of his own, Murray is the frontrunner to begin the 2026 season as the Vikings' QB1. McCarthy, meanwhile, remains committed to the organization that drafted him out of Michigan two years ago.

With speculation growing that the 2023 national champion could seek a trade if he loses the position battle this summer, McCarthy was asked Tuesday at mandatory minicamp if he's thought about wanting to be traded.

"I think I made it very clear I wanted to be here before I got here," the 23-year-old McCarthy told reporters. "I love this organization. I love the coaching staff. I absolutely love these players to death. This is where I want to be.

"I feel like I can thrive in this system, and it's just — everything played out exactly how I wanted it. I wouldn't want anything else to change."

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The last part of that statement is a bit bewildering, considering McCarthy's first two seasons in the league undoubtedly didn't go according to plan. Nevertheless, his optimism is notable. The young signal-caller handled his news conference Tuesday with a different tenor than the kind he exhibited in OTAs last month.

Back then, he answered questions with an edge that unveiled an unmistakable chip on his shoulder, as he turned heads with a classroom analogy to describe his relationship with Murray.

This time around, McCarthy didn't say anything potentially divisive. When a reporter inquired about McCarthy also having Carson Wentz as a resource in the quarterback room, McCarthy effused about Wentz and explained how he's also learned life lessons from the starter-turned-journeyman, including some about fatherhood.

Now a third-year pro, McCarthy discussed focusing on "that next rep" and keeping it "as simple as that," noting that how the reps are distributed is out of his control.

Even though Murray was on the field for the first snaps of team drills Tuesday, McCarthy wound up with around the same number of reps with the starters, according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert. It's clear that Murray is still working through the learning curve in Minnesota. He threw consecutive interceptions in 7-on-7 drills on Tuesday, per Seifert.

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell hasn't announced a deadline for when he wants to name the team's first-string quarterback.

"I have an idea of the appropriate time to then transition to preparing whoever that player's going to be to get ready to go," O'Connell told ESPN's Lindsey Thiry, who subsequently asked, "When is that, Kevin?"

O'Connell responded: "Yeah, the idea of me sharing that information — you can have an idea all you want. But we've got a great plan in place. We want to make sure that when we get to training camp, we've got a great plan. You don't have a ton of time. But it does set up well to check a lot of boxes from a standpoint of elevating that room, letting the competition play out but also being able to make a decision and move forward the best way that we know. The ultimate decision's going to come down to what's best for the Minnesota Vikings."

A reporter asked McCarthy on Tuesday if the head-to-head with Murray still feels like a legitimate competition.

"It feels like the same thing every day," McCarthy said. "I mean, even last year, I'm just competing with myself to be the best kind of person I am for this team and best kind of quarterback. And, at the end of the day, the more we do that, rising tide lifts all ships, and we'll be in a good spot by the end of it."

McCarthy said the biggest difference he's detected in his game this offseason is how he's playing more instinctually due to his familiarity with the Vikings' scheme.

"Right now, I feel the best I've ever felt playing the game of football, especially in this team," he said.