McCarthy hones mechanics, aiming for a 2026 resurgence. Despite competition, his raw talent and clutch plays hint at a potential future comeback.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is looking to improve this offseason. It appears he is taking the steps necessary to return a better quarterback in 2026.
Per Alec Lewis of The Athletic, McCarthy is gearing up to be the best player he can be next season. Among the steps he is taking, it looks like he will be refining his mechanics over the offseason as well.
The Vikings' signing of Carson Wentz caused somewhat of a stir despite the fact that Wentz was really McCarthy's backup last season. For some, it signaled the end of the McCarthy era of quarterback in Minnesota and an impending trade.
Obviously, the real mark of the end of the McCarthy era came when the Vikings signed Kyler Murray to be their starting quarterback. Nevertheless, it was not the end of his time as a Viking. It simply put a pause on McCarthy's time as a starter and allowed Minnesota to enter the offseason with flexibility at the position as their former Top 10 draft pick develops. Presumably he will develop on the sideline in Minnesota this year.
There are some that believe the Vikings are completely out on McCarthy as a franchise quarterback. The move to even add Murray probably indicates they are looking elsewhere to find a quarterback for the future. Even so, one could just as easily make the case that there's no guarantee Murray will be the quarterback of the future either. We will still have to wait and see either way.
The prerequisite for the Vikings moving forward with Murray is his willingness to be there after this year. For that reason, things probably have to go well with the team's new quarterback to have a realistic chance of getting him back in 2027. And even then, there's no guarantee that Murray is a great fit in Minnesota either.
By the same token, we can't rule anything out with McCarthy either. The quarterback flashed Top 10 draft pick athleticism and playmaking as starter for the Vikings despite his well-documented struggles. McCarthy also proved to be a clutch performer in making several fourth quarter plays despite struggles in the first three quarters of several games.
The likelihood is Murray will fare well in Minnesota and ultimately re-sign. But the Vikings are probably not counting on it without reservation, and perhaps neither should we. Minnesota will upgrade at quarterback in 2026, but that could include a much-improved McCarthy even if Murray starts the whole season. The former Top 10 pick will have plenty of people rooting for his development as the team prepares for a resurgence next year.