The Minnesota Vikings will have a three-way QB battle with Kyler Murray, Carson Wentz, and J.J. McCarthy. Nonetheless, many expect Murray to come out as the winner and be the starter in Week 1. As a result, the question will be who will be QB2 between Wentz and McCarthy.
If Wentz were to fall and become the Vikings’ QB3, would he regret his decision to re-sign with Minnesota? While not going to get the starting job with the New York Jets, the team reportedly wanted Wentz.
During an April 2 appearance on SNY’s SportsNite, Jets insider Connor Hughes noted that Kirk Cousins, who signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, wasn’t a priority for New York to be their backup, given that the player they wanted to be QB2 was Wentz.
“[The Jets] were really hoping that player [for their backup QB role] was going to be Carson Wentz, and that was somebody that Frank Reich really was hoping, just because he’s somebody who knows his offense and somebody they value a lot,” Hughes said. “And if he needed to play, he could come in there and do it at a high level because of his familiarity with Reich’s system.
“But unfortunately, Carson decided to go to the Minnesota Vikings, where it would not surprise me at all to see him as Kyler Murray’s backup, not J.J. McCarthy. But now the Jets need to pivot, and honestly, there aren’t that many appealing options out there.”
Could Carson Wentz Be QB2 in Minnesota?
After re-signing Wentz, who played a few games in 2025 before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury, former Vikings linebacker Ben Leber released his QB depth chart for the team on March 19. To the surprise of many, he had Wentz at the top over Murray and McCarthy.
Nonetheless, he did catch flack for it, but during his appearance on KFAN on March 23, Leber doubled down on this stance, noting that the Vikings’ offense would look better with Wentz. However, Leber noted that he expects Murray to be the starter in Week 1.
“Carson, to me, barring any sort of injury, and I think that we all were sort of wowed by his three weeks coming into this team and then having to take over the team and, like, ‘Damn, this guy can actually kind of sling it.’” Leber said. “He can actually play. Our offense is actually kind of efficient. [The Vikings were] moving the ball. We’re much more explosive. We’re getting the ball down the field.
“The whole offense is opened up. We don’t have to negate middle-of-the-field throws because J.J. McCarthy can’t make those. We can use the whole field with Carson Wentz. So, as of today, mid-March, I think Carson Wentz is a better fit for this offense. Do I think Kyler Murray is going to win out? Yes. Yes, I do think that on opening day it’s going to be Kyler Murray.”
Vikings Need to Have True QB Competition
Furthermore, Leber believes that with how little the Vikings are paying all three QBs, the team needs to go with the best player who shows out during OTAs, minicamp, training camp, and the preseason.
“It has to be a true competition,” Leber added. “And I do not think, especially with the money that you’re paying these quarterbacks, that you have to anoint anybody, right? If Carson ends up being the best quarterback through OTAs, minicamp, and the early parts of training camp, I think you play the guy. You start him if he’s truly winning a competition.
“I know a lot of people would get upset if Kyler was the backup quarterback to start the season, but I would completely understand if we’re watching minicamp and training camp and see that this guy is good when he can scramble, but he can’t stay within the offense.”
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