The Minnesota Vikings are facing a major decision at the quarterback position, but they can take solace knowing J.J. McCarthy's health is reportedly one less thing to worry about this offseason.
The No. 10 overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft was expected to be the team's franchise quarterback, but a preseason knee injury cost him his rookie campaign and forced him to undergo a repair for his torn meniscus in August and another surgery in November.
Yet NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that the Michigan product "is expected to begin football drills in the next few weeks and should be ready to roll by OTAs in May."
Given that news, all eyes will turn to the front office's decision with Sam Darnold.
Darnold was unexpectedly brilliant for the Vikings in place of McCarthy during the 2024 season and made his first career Pro Bowl while completing 66.2 percent of his passes for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
NFL @NFLSam Darnold now has 35 TDs on the season. Before 2024, his season high was 19 (in 2019). 📈📈📈<br><br>📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GBvsMIN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GBvsMIN</a> on FOX<br>📱: <a href="https://t.co/waVpO909ge">https://t.co/waVpO909ge</a> <a href="https://t.co/KSDyeFKZtf">pic.twitter.com/KSDyeFKZtf</a>
However, he is scheduled for free agency this offseason.
On the one hand, signing a 27-year-old quarterback coming off that type of season to a multiyear contract would make sense. On the other hand, the 2024 campaign is an anomaly in his career to this point, as Darnold was 21-35 as a starter for the New York Jets, Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers prior to joining the Vikings.
He also struggled mightily in Minnesota's loss to the Detroit Lions in the final regular-season game and Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs, which cut short much of the momentum he was building heading into an important offseason.
The front office could use the franchise tag on him if it doesn't want to commit the resources necessary for a long-term deal, especially with McCarthy waiting in the wings. Or it could complete a tag-and-trade and fully hand the reins over to the the 22-year-old.
After all, the Vikings drafted McCarthy when they did for a reason, and they will surely want to see what he is capable of at the NFL level sooner rather than later.
And he will have the chance to show them with a fully healthy knee heading into the 2025 campaign.
