ESPN details Vikings' J.J. McCarthy must buck historical trend after Kyler Murray signing

The Minnesota Vikings have signed Kyler Murray to a one-year deal, and the response has been rather interesting.

Particularly as it pertains to the future of J.J. McCarthy.

Because Murray isn't coming to Minnesota to be a backup. He's coming to be a starter.

And that means McCarthy will have to fight for his career in Minnesota, according to some people.

Murray will get first-team reps, and if he does outshine McCarthy and gets the starting job, then it could be curtains for J.J.'s time in Minnesota.

And ESPN's Kevin Seifert has dropped a little information nugget that McCarthy might have to buck a historical trend to stay a Viking.

"It's always possible that McCarthy could be energized by this decision and puts on a training camp display so forceful that the Vikings have no choice to make him their starter," Seifert wrote. "But assuming Murray wins the job, the recent history of such moves does not bode well for McCarthy's future with the Vikings.

"Only three quarterbacks drafted at any point in the first round since 2000 have received fewer than 10 starts with the team that drafted them: the San Francisco 49ers' Trey Lance, Paxton Lynch of the Denver Broncos and Johnny Manziel of the Cleveland Browns. Much is yet to be determined, but that's the historical parameter the Vikings and McCarthy now face."

More: Vikings signing 2-time Pro Bowler in free agency nightmare fuel for J.J. McCarthy

McCarthy facing defining offseason

There is no denying that Murray appears to have the inside track at the starting role, and that means McCarthy is going to have a serious fight on his hands this offseason.

Which is exactly what Kevin O'Connell wants.

But if it is Murray who wins the job, then, as Siefert laid out, it doesn't bode well for McCarthy's future in Minnesota.

Now, that's not to say he can't beat out Murray for the starting role, because of course he can. But if he doesn't? Things could go south in a hurry for the young quarterback.

There is a lot of water to go under the bridge this offseason, but now, Minnesota's QB battle has just taken center stage.

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