Nolan Teasley On J.J. McCarthy: ‘He’s Really Talented’

General manager Nolan Teasley was not in the Vikings’ front office when the team drafted former Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy 10th overall in 2024. McCarthy has done nothing to justify his draft slot since then and is now a backup, but Teasley gave him a vote of confidence this week.

“He’s really talented,” Teasley said (via Kevin Seifert of ESPN). “I think I said that from the jump. He was picked in the first round for a reason. Really good arm strength, underrated athlete and looking forward to how he continues to develop in this system. I think that the thing you need to keep in mind with J.J. is that he has the hardest job in sports. He’s only started 10 games and his story’s not written.”

McCarthy made the Vikings’ initial 53-man roster last weekend, and Teasley said he expects him to be on it when they open their season on Sept. 13. Teasley was unwilling to comment on whether he has discussed a potential McCarthy trade with other teams, per Seifert.

McCarthy missed the Vikings’ preseason finale with an ankle injury, but he has been a full go at practice this week. While seemingly minor, the ankle issue adds to a growing list of ailments in McCarthy’s two-plus years in the league. He missed his entire rookie season with a torn meniscus and then combined for seven absences last year because of a high ankle sprain, a concussion and a hairline fracture in his right hand.

When McCarthy was healthy enough to take the field in 2025, he was statistically among the worst signal-callers in the league. Despite the presence of Justin Jefferson, perhaps the premier receiver in the sport, McCarthy threw more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (11), completed just 57.6% of attempts and posted a 72.6 passer rating.

Thanks largely to poor quarterback play, the Vikings finished 9-8 and missed the playoffs. As the GM responsible for drafting McCarthy and then letting Sam Darnold leave in free agency after a breakout showing in 2024, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah lost his job in January.

Teasley, who won a Super Bowl with Darnold and the Seahawks last season, took over the Vikings’ front office late in the spring. By then, executive Rob Brzezinski and head coach Kevin O’Connell had already signed former Cardinals starter Kyler Murray to compete with McCarthy for the starting job. Murray won the role in camp, seemingly leaving QB2 duties to McCarthy. However, with journeyman Carson Wentz pushing for the No. 2 spot, McCarthy may be third in the pecking order in Week 1.

Despite Teasley’s kind assessment of McCarthy, it is going to take a drastic and unexpected turnaround for the GM to pick up the QB’s fifth-year option for 2028 next offseason. McCarthy is facing a steep climb just to get on the field in Year 3, let alone work his way into Minnesota’s long-term plans.