Former NFL executive 'all-in' on this NFC QB

McCarthy may not have been asked to do too much at Michigan in certain situations, given the team's strong rushing attack. Still, he completed 72.3 percent of his passes during the title-winning season. During both seasons as the starter for the Wolverines in 2022 and 2023, McCarthy combined for 44 TDs and only nine interceptions.

His dual-threat ability deserves some recognition as well. He scrambled for 200 or more yards in his last two seasons at Michigan and combined for 10 rushing TDs in his career. 

A major benefit to McCarthy coming into the season is the returning production on a Vikings team that made the postseason one year ago with Sam Darnold under center. Some of that production, though, will not be there at the start of the season.

The team announced on Tuesday that WR Rondale Moore suffered a season-ending knee injury in Saturday's preseason opener against the Texans. Moore, who was acquired by the Vikings in the offseason, will miss his second consecutive season with a knee injury.

One week earlier, it was announced that WR Jordan Addison, who was second on the team with 875 receiving yards and nine TDs last season, was suspended for the first three games without pay for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.

Minnesota's leading receiver, Justin Jefferson, is dealing with a left hamstring strain. According to Ben Volin, Senior NFL Writer at The Boston Globe, head coach Kevin O'Connell says Jefferson is "definitely progressing," but the Vikings will not re-evaluate his return plan until next week, following their Week 2 preseason game against the New England Patriots on Saturday.

There is no doubt that Minnesota has the talent around McCarthy to be successful. Until Addison returns and Jefferson is healthy enough to build some chemistry with him, it may take some time out of the gate for McCarthy to fully get acclimated as the team's starter.