It’s definitely going to take some getting used to for Michigan fans, but JJ McCarthy certainly looks good in a Vikings helmet. Minnesota kicked off its rookie minicamp this week, and all eyes were on the first-round gunslinger who is expected to be the franchise QB of the future for the Vikings.
On Friday, the Vikings released a video that gave fans the first glimpse of McCarthy slinging the rock during camp – and he looked pretty damn good.
Although McCarthy is certainly capable of winning the starting job this fall, he’ll need to battle Sam Darnold for that privilege. Darnold, a former No. 3 overall pick by the New York Jets, is looking to get his NFL career back on track as he heads into year seven in the league. Darnold spent three seasons with the Jets (2018-20), two seasons with the Panthers (2021-22), and one season with the San Francisco 49ers (2023). Though talented, Darnold has never been able to live up to the hype of a first-rounder – and he’s hoping to change that in Minnesota.
McCarthy, on the other hand, enters the QB battle with a 27-1 record as a starter at the University of Michigan. His winning pedigree is certainly something that caught the attention of the Vikings leadership, and his winning attitude is something that could win over his teammates quickly. With that being said, the NFL is a much faster (and more physical) product than the colligate level, and the former Michigan QB is learning that quickly.
On Friday, McCarthy threw a pass that was intercepted (his only interception of the day) by undrafted rookie linebacker K.J. Cloyd, an interception that served as a quick wakeup call that this is a new level of football.
“I’ve got to stop talking smack because it always turns out, they win in the end,” McCarthy said, per The Star Tribune. “The splits were a little messed up; I obviously take full credit for the outcome of the play. But you know, just reading it outside in, I felt like I could fit in there and force it, but at this level, they’re a lot faster, a lot longer. It’s great to learn now, before the vets get here. Hopefully I won’t be in that situation anytime soon.”
Although head coach Kevin O’Connell obviously hopes to avoid costly mistakes in the fall, he also wants McCarthy to stay true to himself and play his game.
“These guys tend to, when they’re not feeling the rush, they tend to be a little more aggressive with their arms, and I like that – trial and error – and we move on to the next rep.”
O’Connell understands that this is a process for McCarthy, and he sounds confident that his first-round QB is on the right track.
“And not because anybody told him to,” O’Connell said, per ESPN. “But he’s trying to have the best possible day that he can today and then try to do the same thing tomorrow. This guy is a process-driven guy and understands that there’s a long road ahead of him, that we’re just trying to make incremental gains that will be solidified as part of how he plays quarterback for a long time. So I’ve been really impressed with him so far and look forward to get another full day tomorrow.”
