Henry McKennaAug 10, 2026
McKenna predicts Kyler Murray will win the Vikings' starting QB job over J.J. McCarthy, that Minnesota will make the playoffs if Murray cuts out the hero ball, that both QBs will play in 2026, and wonders whether rookie Carson Beck could unseat Jacoby Brissett as Arizona's Week 1 starter.
Published in writing · Fox SportsRead the original
What Henry McKenna said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromIt's only nominally close. For those watching intently, the winner is already obvious. It's going to be Murray.
- Where it was published
- Fox Sports
- The piece
- The Subtle Ways Kyler Murray Is Winning Over Vikings, Plus Micah Parsons Said What?
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidAug 10
- PlayedSep 13
- GradedSep 17
- 1Carson Beck to be 1st on the depth chart“If he can keep this up ... then he could earn the starting job. We were already likely to see him this season. Now I’m wondering if we’ll see him in Week 1.”
- 2Minnesota Vikings to make the playoffs“But if he can cut out the hero ball (and the untimely turnovers) and let the skill players do the work for the offense, the Vikings will make the playoffs.”
- 3J.J. McCarthy to be 2nd on the depth chart“It’s almost inevitable that both Murray and McCarthy play for the Vikings in 2026. ... McCarthy will likely have to play”
- 4Kyler Murray to be 1st on the depth chart“That play felt emblematic of what’s to come with this QB competition. It’s only nominally close. For those watching intently, the winner is already obvious. It’s going to be Murray.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carson Beck to be 1st on the depth chart1 | Depth Chart Calls | — | 0 | 100 | −200 | |
| Minnesota Vikings to make the playoffs2 | Playoff Picks | — | — | — | — | |
| J.J. McCarthy to be 2nd on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Kyler Murray to be 1st on the depth chart4 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 4 calls · 1 miss · 3 waiting | 0 | 100 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naiveworse than naive4 checkable claims — 3 depth chart calls and 1 playoff pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 4 have settled so far, averaging 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Where this call stands in the room
Kyler Murray · 2026 season44 calls from 32 pundits between 1 and 2. Henry McKenna said 1. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
1Depth Chart CallsCarson BeckArizona Cardinals
Carson Beck to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictMiss0Miss · naive 1000this call−100a naive guess=−100worse than naive×2difficulty=−200skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- ARI
- week:
- 1
- skill:
- −200
- player:
- Carson Beck
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he starts
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- reported:
- he did not play that week
- settled by:
- weekly snap counts (he took no snap in the game)
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- no prior season — a rookie is assumed to start behind the incumbent
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
2Playoff PicksMinnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings to make the playoffs
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsJ.J. McCarthyMinnesota Vikings
J.J. McCarthy to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Depth Chart CallsKyler MurrayMinnesota Vikings
Kyler Murray to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
The game in this take
every pundit’s pick on eachWho this take is about
Others on the same people
Logan Lazarczyk · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Ahead of the trade deadline, they float three Raiders moves: shipping Kirk Cousins to Minnesota if the Vikings offer a second-round pick, selling Maxx Crosby to Dallas for a first-rounder plus, and acquiring Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for a second- or third-round pick.Patricia Traina · Trade and Signing Calls · J.J. McCarthy · Hit 100
Traina expects defensive tackle to be a top need for the Giants in next year's draft, and suggests the Giants could trade J.J. McCarthy next offseason — or keep both them and Jaxson Dart if the return isn't good enough. They also expect Dart to make a full recovery.Charean Williams · Roster Spot Calls · Odell Beckham Jr. · Miss 0
Williams writes that after releasing Odell Beckham Jr. to open a roster spot for Kirk Cousins, the Vikings will bring them back on the practice squad.Justin Penik · Trade and Signing Calls · Aaron Jones · Hit 100
Pennock predicted Sam Darnold to Pittsburgh, Zach Baun re-signing in Philadelphia, Charvarius Ward and Jamien Sherwood to Washington, Cam Robinson to Chicago as left tackle, Cam Bynum to the Jets, Darius Slayton to the Chargers, Aaron Jones back to Minnesota and Aaron Rodgers to the Giants.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.Nic Bodiford · Depth Chart Calls · Joe Fagnano · Hit 100
Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward.Jordan Dajani · Depth Chart Calls · Drew Kendall · Miss 0
Dajani expects Cam Jurgens to move back to center as the Ravens' starter after the trade, and projects a rebuilt Eagles offensive line for Week 5 with Jordan Mailata, Willie Lampkin, Drew Kendall, Tyler Steen and Markel Bell starting from left tackle to right tackle.