The Minnesota Vikings enjoyed an incredible 14-3 regular season record last year, with Sam Darnold taking over as the primary quarterback after Kirk Cousins' departure. J.J. McCarthy was competing for the QB1 spot, but an injury in the preseason opener sidelined him for his entire rookie season.
Cut to 2025, the Vikings have parted ways with Darnold. They let him walk away in free agency, and he has signed a three-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks worth $100 million. McCarthy is now set to lead the charge for the team in the upcoming season.
The 22-year-old has recovered from the knee surgery and is sweating it out in practice sessions with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and others. During an episode of the "Get Up" show, former New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum shared his take on McCarthy and Darnold's comparison.
"J.J. McCarthy will make everyone forget about Sam Darnold in the Twin Cities," he said. "Let me tell you why. Look at the interior offensive line. They went out and signed Will Fries, Ryan Kelly, and drafted Donovan Jackson in the first round."
"We can talk about Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, on and on and on. Great offensive line, good experience in the offseason with Kevin O'Connell. He will play really well in his rookie, well, second year."
Tannenbaum is confident about McCarthy's potential and sees him as the next big thing in Minnesota. He also believes that the Vikings' head coach can bring the best out of the Vikings' QB. Tannebaum was the Jets GM who cut Kevin O’Connell, and his words of appreciation for O'Connell show that the 40-year-old has proved himself.
Darnold was exceptional in his only season in Minnesota. He threw for a career-high 4,319 yards, 361 catches, and 35 touchdowns. He became the first quarterback to secure 14 victories with a new team in their first season.
After leading the Michigan Wolverines to a perfect 15-0 season, McCarthy declared for the NFL Draft. During his standout final year with the Wolverines, he racked up 2,991 passing yards, delivered 240 completions, and notched 22 touchdowns.
McCarthy showed a glimpse of his potential in the preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders. A year later, he has a clear runway to take the flight. The youngster would hope to shut his critics and take the Vikings to a deeper run into the postseason next year.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!