The Minnesota Vikings have put up 11 wins through their first 13 games this season. They weren’t supposed to be this good, and there is still plenty of hesitation to believe they are. Sam Darnold is the one leading the charge, but it’s the leadership where the difference lies.
That leadership believes in J.J. McCarthy, and it’s why the Vikings used the first round pick on him. It’s also why, even through injury, Minnesota knows they will be just fine once Sam Darnold goes elsewhere.
It’s not the Sam Darnold show for the Minnesota Vikings
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah signed Sam Darnold to a $10 million deal believing he could be a capable bridge quarterback. He was right, and Kevin O’Connell has made him so much more than that. Darnold has been otherworldly, but those around the league aren’t seeing the bigger picture.
“McCarthy is their guy. The talking heads think they are crazy to let Darnold go, but they don’t have the same conviction on McCarthy as the Vikings do.”
Anonymous NFL executive (The Athletic)
It’s not so much that J.J. McCarthy is the Vikings guy as it is that O’Connell is Minnesota’s guy. No one coming into the season would have expected this from Darnold. You would have been laughed at to suggest it. Now it’s reality.
DARNOLD JETTAS 52-YARD TD 🚨
📺: #ATLvsMIN on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/ZywUjIuoD4— NFL (@NFL) December 8, 2024
Minnesota has gotten 28 touchdowns and just 10 picks from Darnold through 13 games. He has thrown for 3,299 yards and has a career-best 68.4% completion percentage. Realistically, he’s in the MVP conversation.
O’Connell has set up his starting quarterback in a prime position to succeed. The Vikings offer a signal caller the ability to connect with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and others. J.J. McCarthy will get that same benefit as well.
Related: Sounds Like Kirk Cousins New Teammates are Ready to Move on Already
Sam Darnold has earned, and deserves, his upcoming payday. It’s not shocking that McCarthy is the guy Minnesota will turn to.
Vikings reset the quarterback position for JJ McCarthy
Minnesota would have love to keep continuity at the quarterback position. They weren’t ever going to pay him the egregious sum that the Atlanta Falcons did. The opportunity to reset the cap hit at quarterback came and Minnesota executed upon it.
By signing Darnold and drafting McCarthy, the Vikings found themselves with excess funds for the first time in a while. Extensions for stars like Jefferson and Christian Darrisaw were always going to happen. The additional dollars paved the way for Stephon Gilmore and others, however.
Wake up, babe.
It’s gameday and a new JJ McCarthy hype vid just dropped. https://t.co/5KSXgt21Ps pic.twitter.com/1BFMY5SufJ
— Thor Nystrom (@thorku) December 16, 2024
That reality continues to be a thing moving forward, and paying Darnold for the success in Minnesota would contradict the plan. Darnold can go get his payday elsewhere, and the Vikings can replicate this outcome with the next man up.
McCarthy brings a level of talent that had Minnesota salivating during the draft. He led the Big Ten with a 72.3% completion rate, and threw 22 touchdowns in a run-heavy offense. He was picked off just four times and had a conference-leading passing efficiency rating (167.4) as well.
Related: Stephon Gilmore Injury Update: Minnesota Vikings CB1 Could Play vs Bears
McCarthy should be expected to succeed when he takes the field. Darnold is a proof of concept, and O’Connell is the steadying force that isn’t going anywhere.
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