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J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings gestures to the sideline against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Minnesota Vikings are taking a long-awaited dive into football uncertainty by hitching the franchise’s hopes on a quarterback on a rookie-scale contract.
After moving on from Kirk Cousins, the Vikings have bolstered the roster through high-profile free-agent additions and the draft.
The table is set for J.J. McCarthy, and as prognosticators begin the dive into the team’s 2025 schedule, there are some non-believers.
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton predicted the Vikings to “come back to earth” and drop out of the playoff picture with an 8-9 regular-season record with McCarthy.
“O’Connell has worked well with veteran quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Darnold. McCarthy hasn’t taken a regular-season snap, though,” Moton wrote on May 14. “On top of McCarthy’s inexperience, he must also knock off some rust and build a rapport with his top playmakers.
“The Vikings have the supporting cast to prop up a young quarterback, and their defense can help them win low-scoring games, but this team will regress with a first-year starter under center, perhaps more than most would expect after a 14-win campaign,” Moton added. “On the road, McCarthy will face stout defenses within the NFC North and in Pittsburgh, Seattle and Los Angeles. Chargers lead skipper Jim Harbaugh coached him at Michigan and knows his weaknesses.”
Vikings, J.J. McCarthy Facing Top-5 Most Difficult Schedule
GettyJ.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings participates in a drill during training camp.
Moton’s analysis has valid points. The Vikings have a daunting schedule, and it could be too much to overcome for the 22-year-old McCarthy.
According to Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis, Minnesota has the fifth-toughest schedule in the league this season.
The Vikings’ strength of schedule largely reflects on the NFC North being one of the most competitive divisions a year ago, along with the added competition in facing the NFC East, consisting of the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, a playoff contender in the Washington Commanders and the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants.
J.J. McCarthy Predicted to Surpass Sam Darnold as Vikings QB in Year 1
GettyJ.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings participates in a drill during training camp.
While Moton is among those concerned about McCarthy’s ability to lead the Vikings in Year 1, NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks is bullish on the Michigan product having instant success at the next level.
In a recent write-up, Brooks argued that McCarthy could surpass Sam Darnold, who earned his first Pro Bowl nod with the team last season.
From Brooks:
Standing 6-foot-3 and 219 pounds with plus arm talent and athleticism, McCarthy expands the playbook with his skills as a mobile playmaker. He can operate within the pocket or on the move, allowing the Vikings to mix traditional dropbacks with bootlegs and movement-based passes to keep defenders guessing on the launch point. In addition, McCarthy’s ability as a runner could enable Minnesota to dial up read-option plays in goal-line and short-yardage situations…
Though some will take the “high-end game manager” language as a dig at McCarthy’s upside, it speaks to his winning pedigree and ego-free approach. McCarthy has already demonstrated his willingness to sacrifice individual stats for team success as a collegian (SEE: 27-1 record at Michigan with a national title), and that certainly made him an attractive prospect for evaluators who value “winners” at the position….
McCarthy’s play will ultimately determine whether the 2025 Vikings reach their ceiling and make a serious run for a ring, but Minnesota has created a stellar environment for a first-time starter. Consequently, I believe this wild card will come up aces.
Trevor Squire is a sports journalist covering the NFL and NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks. Trevor studied journalism at the University of Minnesota — Twin Cities, making stops at the Star Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. You can reach him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @trevordsquire. More about Trevor Squire
