Why Vikings passed on Darnold, Rodgers for McCarthy

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Why Vikings passed on Sam Darnold, Aaron Rodgers for J.J. McCarthy

By Chris Peterson | Last updated Jun 14, 2025 12:15 PM ET

It has been an interesting offseason for the Minnesota Vikings, especially at the quarterback position.

After a 14-3 season, the Vikings lost in the first round of the NFL playoffs to the Los Angeles Rams. Sam Darnold, who led Minnesota to the postseason as the starting quarterback, wasn't re-signed.

The 2024 Pro Bowler was stellar, but the Vikings didn't want to ink him to a long-term deal. They also passed on four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, following conversations between the team and the former Packers player.

According to reports, Minnesota chose not to sign Rodgers because they believe J.J. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, can be an effective signal-caller for them.

It might seem like a stretch to choose to start McCarthy this season, having just come off a season-ending injury, instead of opting for Darnold or Rodgers.

Yet, a new report from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler explains why.

"Vikings feel like J.J. McCarthy in Day 9 of these offseason workouts is a lot stronger than Day 1," Fowler explained.

.@JFowlerESPN with some @Vikings intel on J.J. McCarthy so far through OTAs and Minicamp:

“Vikings feel like J.J. McCarthy in Day 9 of these offseason workouts is a lot stronger than Day 1.”

pic.twitter.com/FiJ1sjrxXk
— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) June 14, 2025

Fowler went further, though, saying that Minnesota "believes" it can win a Super Bowl with the 22-year-old quarterback, in part because he will have three more years on a rookie deal.

That will enable Minnesota to be aggressive in building its roster, which is already regarded as one of the best in the league.

"They didn't sign Rodgers and went with McCarthy because they believe in their three-year plan. They believe they can win a Super Bowl in the next three years," Fowler said.

McCarthy will have some growing pains this season. He will essentially be a rookie, but his talent is undeniable. And if he can learn on the fly this season, Minnesota has the talent to be a Super Bowl contender.

However, the Vikings are focused on the next three years, not just 2025. McCarthy may not give Minnesota the best chance to win a Super Bowl this season, but over the next three years, he will.

That's why McCarthy will be the starting quarterback in Week 1. Not Rodgers or Darnold.

Chris Peterson

Chris is a sports fanatic with 20 years of sports writing experience. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, FanSided and Yardbarker. He’s covered the NFL, high school sports and everything in between.

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