The Minnesota Vikings showed confidence in JJ McCarthy’s potential as a franchise quarterback by selecting him 10th overall, but the former Michigan standout might have to wait for his NFL debut.
In his latest mailbag, Alec Lewis of The Athletic stated he doesn’t expect McCarthy to start for the Vikings in Week 1. He believes McCarthy may not take the field until the second half of the 2024 season, if at all.
Sam Darnold received most of the first-team reps during training camp, indicating he’s likely to start the season as the Vikings’ quarterback. Head coach Kevin O’Connell clarified that this isn’t a critique of McCarthy’s talent or minicamp performance, but part of the team’s developmental strategy.
“This approach reflects the Vikings’ long-term vision,” Lewis noted. “GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Coach O’Connell have discussed the value of allowing quarterbacks time to develop off the field, which can lead to greater success.”
Many top NFL quarterbacks, such as Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers, benefited from initially observing from the sidelines. The Green Bay Packers followed a similar path with Jordan Love, who excelled when he finally got his opportunity.
At 27, Darnold has significant NFL experience and should benefit from O’Connell’s coaching and targets like Justin Jefferson.
Ideally, the Vikings will stay competitive with Darnold at the helm, giving McCarthy the time he needs to develop. However, if the team struggles, the pressure to start the rookie could quickly increase
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