While you might be excited about the Minnesota Vikings’ revamped quarterback room, the rest of the world evidently needs more time to buy into the experiment. NFL SpinZone‘s Lou Scataglia ranked all quarterback rooms this week, with training camps about a month away, and the Vikings checked in at No. 21 — also known as 12th-worst.

Vikings fans would obviously rank Minnesota’s four passers a bit higher, but that’s just not the way of the world right now. Minnesota’s passers must prove the doubters wrong.

Kevin O’Connell Has More QB Optionality Than Last Season

NFL SpinZone: Vikings QB Room = No. 21

The Vikings earned a spot just ahead of the Indianapolis Colts and one spot behind the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Scataglia explained the No. 21 placement, “Oh boy. This is certainly a quarterback room. As of now, it would be a massive shock if Kyler Murray did not start for the Minnesota Vikings this year, and I am of the opinion that there was some sort of back-door agreement that Murray would start for the team this year, despite what could end up being marketed as a ‘quarterback competition’ in the media.”

“Murray is a fine player who has always been relatively productive, but he’s never really ascended past being viewed as an average-ish, perhaps good player. JJ McCarthy has unfortunately struggled to stay on the field and just has not been very good when he’s gotten on it.”

Not long ago, Murray was considered a Top 15 NFL quarterback. That isn’t the case in the summer of 2026.

Scataglia continued, “It feels like the Vikings have already thrown in the towel on McCarthy. If not, they wouldn’t have signed Murray to begin with. Carson Wentz is also in the room, and I do believe there is a chance that Wentz ends up being the QB2 of the Vikings for 2025.”

“He’s a perfectly fine backup and someone that can be a spot starter and win a few games if needed. If Murray hits his stride in 2026, which is possible given he’s never been on a team with this good of a supporting cast, the Vikings could be dangerous.”

A Reputational Low Point for Murray

There’s a level of embarrassment that comes with Murray’s exit from Arizona — the Cardinals are not renowned for savvy business. They hung their hat on Murray for seven seasons and grew tired of him in 2025. Arizona won zero postseason games on Murray’s watch.

From a skill-set perspective, Murray can do it all. He has the speed, arm strength, accuracy, and experience to replicate Sam Darnold’s success in Seattle exactly. But no one is too sure if that will happen because why on earth would the Cardinals get rid of him, of all teams?

Two years ago, Murray was considered an upper-echelon quarterback by most reasonable rankers. Now, he headlines a bottom-12 quarterback room, according to NFL SpinZone.

McCarthy Not Much Higher

McCarthy still receives some leeway, largely because he’s only 23 — a noteworthy factor given that quarterbacks rarely enter the league as a finished product. The Vikings were well aware they’d need to exercise patience when they drafted him.

However, that patience is already being tested by two persistent issues: health and consistency.

Durability is the primary concern. McCarthy missed his entire rookie season in 2024 due to a torn meniscus. This injury inadvertently paved the way for Darnold’s reclamation year, which, of course, ignited the contentious Darnold free-agency debate that continues to be rehashed by Vikings fans.

Since then, McCarthy’s injury woes have continued. A high ankle sprain, followed by a concussion, and then a broken bone in his throwing hand, have compounded the problem. In total, he has missed 24 games, meaning he’s been sidelined for a staggering 73% of his potential NFL allotment.

His on-field performance is equally perplexing. McCarthy frequently appeared disoriented early in games, particularly struggling with the offense’s basic rhythm. Yet, come the fourth quarter, he often transformed, delivering passes that showcase the talent that initially excited Minnesota.

It encapsulates the current situation with McCarthy — somehow a clutch demon who struggles outside of the 4th Quarter. Bizarre.

Safety in Numbers?

Listen, the Vikings have three quarterbacks in their orbit who can win football games: Murray, McCarthy, and Wentz. All are former 1st-Rounders. Every single one.

If they systematically tumble due to injury, one should, in theory, be the last man standing. Two of the last three Vikings seasons have been decimated by quarterback injuries. The franchise is statistically overdue for a clean bill of health in the quarterback room.

While Scataglia may consider the quarterback room underwhelming, the Vikings have proven they can post a 9-8 record with rotten quarterback play (last year).

There’s safety in numbers knowing three viable options live on the 2026 depth chart. Perhaps by November or so, the QB room won’t feel like 12th-worst. The quarterback-whispering head coach, Kevin O’Connell, should be better than that.