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The Minnesota Vikings are busy in training camp. Looking at the veterans, one player has been pegged a future Hall of Famer.
The Minnesota Vikings are in the heat of training camp, and lots of eyes are on on this team to see if they’re able to have another solid season under head coach Kevin O’Connell. This year will be very different from last, of course, because the team has quarterback J.J. McCarthy back in the fold after being out for an entire season with an injury. This will be his first year taking the field in the NFL, so it’s basically his rookie season. He’s also expecting his first child in September. How busy can this guy get?
McCarthy still has something to prove, since we haven’t seen him in the setting of the NFL yet. But, one Minnesota Vikings player has already earned his stripes.
In a feature for CBS Sports published on Saturday, Aug. 2, Bryan DeArdo predicts one Hall of Famer for each NFL team. The one he signals out for the Vikings is a good one.
The Minnesota Vikings and the Future Hall of Fame
In the CBS Sports feature, DeArdo states that there’s “no official criteria when determining who is enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That being said, based on who has and who hasn’t been enshrined over the past 50 years, it’s safe to say that there are certain things the voters look at when determining who should get a bronze bust and a gold jacket.”
GettyJustin Jefferson #18 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates his touchdown catch with mascot Viktor the Viking.
For the feature, DeArdo used “interpretation of some of the unspoken criteria used when determining who gets into the Hall of Fame” and created a tally of each NFL’s player with the best chance to make it into the Hall.
So, who did he pick for the Vikings? It’s wide receiver Justin Jefferson. That totally makes sense, because he’s been giving monster numbers.
DeArdo says that while Jefferson isn’t a lock, he’s close. Also, “Jefferson’s historic start will only help his case down the road,” DeArdo notes.
“Jefferson is off to a torrid start. Despite missing time with an injury in 2023, Jefferson still went over 1,000 yards while recording the most yards in NFL history for a player’s first five seasons after amassing 1,533 yards in 2024,” he notes in the piece. “It’ll be interesting to see if Jefferson can keep putting up big numbers with JJ McCarthy throwing him the ball.”
It will be exciting to see what the McCarthy and DeArdo duo looks like on the field. Bring it on.
Best Quarterbacks in the NFL
McCarthy has the potential to be one of the best quarterbacks in the league but he’s not there yet. In a piece published on Friday, Aug. 1, they named Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills the top signal-caller in the league.
“It says a lot to be ranked ahead of (Patrick) Mahomes,” the Fox Sports team states in the feature. “While Allen has yet to beat Mahomes in the playoffs, he showed consistency with his arm and legs last season. In 2024, despite not having a single elite target after Stefon Diggs went to Houston, Allen threw for 3,731 yards and 28 touchdowns.”
If McCarthy has a great season, he could move into the top 10 for next season. But, that’s a big if, and right now, everyone is going to be watching McCarthy closely when the Vikings play him in the preseason and beyond.
Anne Erickson is an award-winning reporter for Heavy Sports covering the NFL, NBA and college football. Anne Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and additional sports, and her work has been published via ESPN, Fox Sports and more. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in sports, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Erickson also hosts several podcasts and is a Detroit-based radio host. More about Anne Erickson
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