Top Landing Spots for J.J. McCarthy to Resurrect NFL Career After Vikings Name Kyler Murray Starter

The Minnesota Vikings' experiment with 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy might not be over, but it will be on hiatus for the foreseeable future. On Tuesday, the Vikings named Kyler Murray as their starting quarterback, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

From the moment Murray was acquired in free agency, most expected him to win Minnesota's starting gig. The first overall pick in the 2019 draft and a former Pro Bowler, Murray gives the Vikings their best chance to win now. Now that his status as QB1 is official, the questions turn to McCarthy's future.

While Kevin O'Connell and the Vikings could continue developing McCarthy as Murray's understudy, a fresh start may give the Michigan product the best chance to revitalize his NFL career. After all, we've seen former draft disappointments Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, and Daniel Jones all benefit from fresh starts in recent years.

The following potential landing spots might just provide McCarthy with an opportunity to follow suit.

Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

Cardinals TE Trey McBride

Murray made his way to Minnesota this offseason after the Arizona Cardinals decided to cut ties and move in a different direction at quarterback. Ironically, Arizona might be able to offer McCarthy a prime opportunity to become Murray's long-term replacement.

The Cardinals have a solid bridge starter in Jacoby Brissett and a promising rookie in third-round pick Carson Beck. However, they're largely expected to target a quarterback in the 2027 draft, along with teams like the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets.

Unlike the Browns and Jets, though, Arizona has a very strong and mostly proven supporting cast. Michael Wilson, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Trey McBride form a splendid receiving corps, and Arizona added do-it-all running back Jeremiyah Love with the third overall selection in April.

Arizona also has an offensive head coach in Mike LaFleur, who has experience in the QB-friendly systems of both Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan. It can provide a fruitful offensive environment not wholly unlike the one McCarthy has enjoyed in Minnesota.

Theoretically, McCarthy would have the pieces in place to perform well if he could push past Brissett and Beck on the depth chart during the season. Of the teams that could realistically give McCarthy an opportunity to compete for the starting job in 2026, the Cardinals should be at the top of his wish list.

Atlanta Falcons

AP Photo/Danny Karnik

Falcons RB Bijan Robinson

The Atlanta Falcons might not have a spot for McCarthy in their 2026 quarterback competition because they're still trying to develop their own 2024 first-round pick, Michael Penix Jr. However, they could be in the market for a new project if Penix, who is recovering from a torn ACL, fails to establish himself this season.

Penix is expected to "compete" with free-agent addition Tua Tagovailoa, though, as NFL Network's Ian Rapoport recently noted, the injury diminishes his chances to compete for Week 1.

"My sense, Tua's the Week 1 starter. He'll go out there and play," Rapoport said on Inside Training Camp Live (beginning at the 1:57 mark). "Continues to play well, then he'll be the guy until he's not. At some point as an organization you'd like to see Michael Penix Jr. play."

Tagovailoa is only on a one-year deal, so if he falters and Penix doesn't show tangible growth, the Falcons could value another developmental quarterback. Atlanta, which hasn't won fewer than seven games since 2020, is probably too talented to wind up with a top draft pick in 2027.

They could also value having another healthy body on the depth chart, as Cooper Rush and undrafted rookie Jack Strand are the only other QBs.

As in Arizona, McCarthy would enter a quarterback-friendly situation by joining the Falcons. Kevin Stefanski is an offensive coach, and Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts headline one of the league's top offensive skill groups.

Los Angeles Chargers

AP Photo/William Liang

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh

Unlike the Cardinals and Falcons, the Los Angeles Chargers have their long-term answer at quarterback. While Justin Herbert might not be an elite starter, he's well above average and is still only 28 years old. However, Los Angeles could still give McCarthy a prime opportunity to rebuild his NFL stock.

The Michigan product was viewed as an unpolished prospect entering the 2024 draft, but his leadership, drive and performances under pressure for a national championship squad raised his draft profile significantly. It's fair to wonder just how much the past two seasons have impacted McCarthy's confidence.

Reuniting with head coach Jim Harbaugh could help McCarthy regain the intangibles that made him a first-round pick in the first place. With Harbaugh and offensive assistant Kirk Campbell—McCarthy's quarterbacks coach at Michigan—in the fold, L.A. could provide a familiar environment.

It could also provide a good one for a young, developing signal-caller should he get playing time. New offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy is one of the league's more creative offensive play callers, while Rashawn Slater, Joe Alt, Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and Omarion Hampton headline a terrific offensive group.

McCarthy wouldn't see the regular-season field often in L.A., but he'd get an opportunity to grow and reset as a backup with two years left on his rookie contract—something Malik Willis did with the Green Bay Packers before getting the chance to be the Miami Dolphins' starter this offseason.

Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers

The Pittsburgh Steelers have their 2026 starter in future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers. However, the 42-year-old has made it clear that this will be his final season in the NFL.

"Zero debate," Rodgers said when asked by reporters about potentially mulling another return in 2027 (h/t ESPN's Brooke Pryor).

While Rodgers is clear about his 2027 plans, Pittsburgh lacks clarity about its quarterback position beyond this season. It has a pair of young developmental signal-callers in 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard and rookie third-rounder Drew Allar. However, it doesn't have a clear-cut heir to Rodgers.

Adding McCarthy to the mix would make sense for the Steelers, who are incredibly unlikely to wind up with a top draft slot in 2027. The last time the franchise experienced a losing season was in 2003, the year before it drafted Ben Roethlisberger 11th overall.

Pittsburgh would also give McCarthy a wonderful opportunity to compete with Howard and Allar next offseason. In the meantime, the former Wolverines star would get to learn under one of the modern era's best quarterbacks and a proven offensive head coach in Mike McCarthy.

San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

49ers coach Kyle Shanahan

Landing with McVay and the Los Angeles Rams would be a dream scenario for McCarthy. The problem is that Los Angeles anointed its heir to Matthew Stafford when it drafted Ty Simpson 13th overall.

The San Francisco 49ers don't have an aging star atop the quarterback depth chart, but they could give McCarthy an excellent chance to reestablish himself as Brock Purdy's backup—something Mac Jones did last season. Jones currently serves as Purdy's understudy, but he is entering the final year of his contract and has drawn trade interest.

According to The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt, the 49ers have wanted a second-round pick for Jones. If a team eventually agrees to meet San Francisco's demands, McCarthy could step into the backup role this season.

There's no guarantee that Purdy will again miss significant time, as he did in 2025, of course. However, the 49ers have a solid skill group—led by Christian McCaffrey, Mike Evans, and Deebo Samuel—and a head coach in Shanahan whose offense is perfect for McCarthy's skill set.

"McCarthy fits best in a Shanahan-style system that simplifies things pre-snap and leans into throws over the middle of the field with the help of play action," Derrik Klassen wrote for the B/R Scouting Department ahead of the 2024 draft. "He has the requisite arm talent and pocket toughness to function in that system."

Jones is very likely to parlay his two-year stint in San Francisco into a starting opportunity next offseason. If McCarthy could make his way to the Bay Area, he could potentially do the same.