Overview
- GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said McCarthy has the character and ability to lead but emphasized his job is to deliver a “deep and competitive” quarterback room.
- ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reported he found no one around the team ruling out a pursuit of an unquestioned starter via a major trade.
- Kyler Murray was cited as a potential “home run” target, though his three years and roughly $230.5 million remaining with 2026 guarantees and his injury history complicate any trade path.
- Former Vikings Kyle Rudolph and Cris Carter advocated for veteran competition, with Carter expecting McCarthy to open 2026 as the starter as the team evaluates his long-term viability.
- Minnesota’s approach follows McCarthy’s injury-affected, uneven 2025 (10 starts, 1,632 passing yards, 11 TDs, 12 INTs) and comes with reported $30–40 million cap hurdles that could steer choices between a blockbuster move and a lower-cost veteran.