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Colin Cowherd Puts J.J. McCarthy in the Same League as $100 Million NFL QB

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Brendan Howe | Last updated Sep 9, 2025 7:09 PM ET

J.J. McCarthy had Minnesota Vikings fans wishing Sam Darnold was still around for most of Monday night's 27-24 win over the Chicago Bears. How he turned it around has FOX Sports' radio personality Colin Cowherd likening him to a former No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.

"I have found my J.J. McCarthy comp," Cowherd said Monday on his radio show. "It's Baker Mayfield. Play at a college power, tons of emotion, a lot of energy, I wish they were bigger. But all they have to do, Baker and J.J. McCarthy, can go into slumps and get reckless, but if they make one big throw and they gain that confidence, their velocity and their accuracy changes."

Kevin O'Connell's team fell behind by 11 points about two minutes into the third quarter when a McCarthy pass intended for Justin Jefferson was picked off by Nahshon Wright and returned for a touchdown. The second-year passer later zipped a 13-yard pass to Jefferson to shave the Vikings' deficit to five points with 12:13 remaining.

Cowherd said McCarthy changed during the following three drives, in which he went 5 for 6 for 57 yards and a score. His 14-yard scamper put the Vikings up for good.

"All Baker needs (is) to step into it, one rope and Baker changes," Cowherd said. "What you really saw from J.J. McCarthy is an old saying, 'Nobody is gonna believe in you in life until you believe in yourself.' And you watched his body language change."

Mayfield signed a three-year, $100 million deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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