Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy admitted during Super Bowl week that he needs “a good alternative” to compete for the beginning job, coming off the whole meniscus repair that sidelined him for his complete rookie season.
He may battle with present Minnesota starter Sam Darnold for the second straight summer season.
“He is earned the proper to be a free agent, however we are going to proceed to have ongoing dialogue and discussions with him and his illustration,” Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell mentioned about Darnold on Thursday night time, ESPN’s Kevin Seifert shared.
It stays to be seen whether or not the Vikings will signal Darnold to a multiyear contract earlier than the brand new league 12 months opens on March 12 or stop him from reaching free company by retaining his rights for 2025 by way of the franchise tag. Both choice would make the 27-year-old far more costly than McCarthy, who might be on his rookie deal for at the least the subsequent few seasons.
Whereas Darnold produced a pair of duds in Minnesota’s greatest video games of the 2024 marketing campaign, he additionally helped the membership end Week 18 at 14-3. Based on Pro Football Reference, he ended the common season ranked fifth within the NFL with 4,319 passing yards, fifth with 35 touchdowns by way of the air and sixth amongst certified gamers with a 102.5 passer ranking.
“You guys understand how I really feel about Sam,” O’Connell defined. “He’s a man that we recognized final 12 months as anyone who may are available and achieve success. And actually irrespective of the place he was at earlier than he arrived in his quarterback journey, it was about maximizing our time collectively. And I believe we did that, and I believe it was a really particular 12 months for Sam. And what that earned him is, everyone in our league now thinks he is a bona fide reliable beginning quarterback and may win numerous soccer video games.”
Whereas that looks like fairly a vote of confidence concerning Darnold’s short-term future, O’Connell was positive to say that he is “actually excited ” about McCarthy’s restoration from the setback he suffered this previous August.
“He is actually hit the bottom working because the true offseason has begun,” O’Connell added concerning the 2024 first-round draft choose.
The Vikings can afford to convey Darnold again, and historical past exhibits that groups can by no means enter a season with too many wholesome and dependable quarterbacks. Minnesota’s ultimate resolution might depend upon whether or not or not O’Connell believes McCarthy can match Darnold’s accomplishments after the 22-year-old spent his debut professional season as an injured spectator.
