The Minnesota Vikings have a new assistant head coach: Frank Smith, formerly the offensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins (2022-2025). And he’s already mastered the art of answering questions like a politician.
Minnesota’s quarterback competition may be public, but the odds still strongly favor Murray.
Asked about the Vikings’ upcoming quarterback battle, Smith danced.
Smith Keeps the Competition Talk Predictably Careful
Kyler Murray versus J.J. McCarthy is coming to a Vikings training camp field near you.
Smith on the QB Battle
Smith hopped on Terron Armstead’s show, The Set, last week, and predictably, the hosts asked him about the Murray-McCarthy battle on tap for Eagan in July.
He said, “What are we doing, especially right now? We want to teach skills and fundamentals that are going to be able to translate all the way to February. We’re building a foundation that is going to sustain the highs and lows of the NFL season. So to talk about positions and what everything is playing out, like, ultimately, everyone here in this program is trying to get better than we were the year before.”
“Everyone is trying to improve on their knowledge of our scheme and how we want to evolve and do things for this next season. So, to say where is everyone at and all that, like, hey, man, we’re in phase two, week two. You want to talk about all kinds of stuff that are way down the road.”
Minnesota onboarded Murray in March for one year and $1.3 million.
Smith added, “I’m worried about making sure today was at the standard at which we want to get it done to, and I think all the guys on this offense are really, ‘Who do we want to be? And let’s build an identity, and let’s build a communication system that allows us to be successful the whole year.”
“I think whether it’s quarterback, wideout, running back, tight end, O-line, coaches, that’s our challenge right now, to get on the same page and make sure our expectations are what we want to be so we can make sure we can get to where we want to be when it matters.”
So … a Non-Answer
Translation? That was basically Smith’s way of saying I don’t want to talk about it.
Thankfully for his sake, coaches often do precisely that, so it’s not the first time a coach or executive talked a lot while saying nothing. The funny part? Smith was telling the truth — everything he said made sense — but he utterly ducked the question about who might win the quarterback battle.
Perhaps Smith didn’t want to slant the impending competition and chose to speak in broad strokes as a diplomatic and pragmatic solution.
The Odds Favor Murray
Per oddsmakers, Murray is a -1000 favorite to win the QB1 job over McCarthy and Carson Wentz. The betting odds largely reflect the prevailing expectations among Vikings fans.
When the Cardinals booted Murray in March, his connection to Minnesota formed almost immediately. There was no protracted decision-making process, prolonged competition, or suspense. Instead, speculation quickly centered on the Vikings, momentum rapidly accumulated, and Murray ultimately joined the expected team.
While this doesn’t imply training camp will be a mere formality — every player, including the quarterback, must earn their role — all indications suggest Murray will begin the summer as the starting quarterback.
Whether the Vikings communicated their intentions clearly or Murray arrived confident he had secured the starting position outright, it’s unlikely he would have signed without a clear understanding of the team’s strategy. Despite Murray’s presumed starting role, McCarthy can still challenge, develop, and compel the Vikings to evaluate their options thoroughly.
Overall, the odds corroborate what the roster acquisition already implied: Murray remains the favored candidate unless circumstances change.
Remember Injuries for Both Men
Don’t forget: Minnesota’s crowded quarterback room reflects a clear organizational understanding: every signal-caller on the roster has a significant injury history.
Murray has missed roughly 26% of his career starts due to injuries, a vulnerability highlighted last season when he appeared in just five games. While his explosiveness is undeniable, it has been overshadowed by durability concerns, often tied to his physical stature. Murray is short.
McCarthy’s situation, however, presents a stark contrast. A key factor boosting his 2024 NFL Draft stock was his exceptional durability, as he remained healthy throughout his high school and collegiate careers at Michigan.
Yet, his injury record with the Vikings has accumulated rapidly, including a torn meniscus, a high ankle sprain, a concussion, and a broken hand. Consequently, McCarthy has been unavailable for approximately 73% of Vikings games since entering the league — a striking statistic even if some injuries were circumstantial.
Wentz completes this trio, with a medical history extensively documented across the league. Last season, he played just five games for Minnesota before a torn labrum prematurely ended his season, though he reports a full recovery.
The Vikings have strategically constructed a roster with multiple layers of quarterback insurance.
The big battle — that Smith avoided — begins in nine weeks.
