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The Minnesota Vikings<\/a> have a quarterback competition on their hands. Kyler Murray<\/a> and J.J. McCarthy<\/a> are in a race for the starting quarterback role<\/a>, and both have their positives<\/a>.<\/p>\n For Murray, he brings the experience that comes with being in the NFL for seven seasons. The Vikings obviously wouldn’t have signed him<\/a> if they didn’t think he could start. For McCarthy, he brings the promise of what could be. He’s entering his third season in the NFL but doesn’t have much to show for it yet. He could be a breakout star just waiting to happen.<\/p>\n One NFL analyst thinks Murray is the breakout player, though. Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report named Murray as a player who could be an “under-the-radar MVP candidate” for 2026.<\/p>\n “That was Arizona. This is Minnesota, where he’ll have a superior offensive line and will be throwing to arguably the NFL’s best receiver in Justin Jefferson,” Gagnon said<\/a>. “A new setting under Kevin O’Connell could enable the 2019 No. 1 overall pick to finally live up to his unique and considerable talent in his age-29 season.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n It would be an absolute spoiler to see Murray win MVP. That honor is usually reserved for the same names, year in and year out. But if Murray can create a winning season for the Vikings and get them to the playoffs, and further, there’s a real case for him to be an MVP favorite in 2027.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nVikings quarterback Kyler Murray beats out J.J. McCarthy in ranking<\/h2>\n
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