J.J. McCarthy, the first-round quarterback selected by the Minnesota Vikings, is generating more attention after one week of training camp.
Despite using the second-team offense, observers like as Judd Zulgad of Skor North have noted that McCarthy appears “more confident and comfortable” than seasoned quarterback Sam Darnold.
Like McCarthy, Darnold was selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He did not, however, live up to the hype when playing for the Carolina Panthers and New York Jets. The Vikings felt he could thrive in their scheme and provide a rookie quarterback room to stay on the bench without feeling pressure to start after he spent time with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023.
McCarthy will start to receive some playing time with the starting offense, according to O’Connell. Fans will be clamoring for McCarthy if he keeps up his impressive play and outperforms Darnold with the starting lineup. But is it really what McCarthy and the organization want in the long run?
McCarthy shouldn’t be placed under center before he is ready, according to Kevin O’Connell. When Washington used their first-round pick in 2019 to select Dwayne Haskins, O’Connell was a member of their staff. Before starting Haskins in the starting lineup, everyone seemed to be on board with a methodical plan to get him up to speed on playing quarterback in the NFL. But midway during his rookie campaign, Washington veered from their plan and replaced head coach Jay Gruden, naming Haskins the starter.
Haskins’ disastrous development by Washington had an impact on O’Connell’s choice to require McCarthy to fulfill specific requirements before he is allowed to play. But when the head coach can manage the team’s atmosphere during the offseason, it’s simpler for Minnesota’s coaching staff to be resolute. What transpires, though, when Darnold throws another interception in Week 7 at U.S. Bank Stadium and the crowd becomes uneasy?
At that point, the Vikings might switch quarterbacks, but they wouldn’t select the guy the fans would like. Should Minnesota retain Nick Mullens, it seems probable that he will take Darnold’s spot rather than McCarthy. In 2023, Mullens had three starts for the Vikings, throwing for more than 300 yards in each contest. For careless turnovers, Mullens took a lot of flak, but he is more familiar with the playbook than Darnold and McCarthy are.
Darnold’s debut by Minnesota would be similar to what the Vikings did in 1999. Instead of starting rookie quarterback Daunte Culpepper in place of veteran quarterback Jeff George, Minnesota benched Randall Cunningham after he struggled and had a 2-4 season opener. Culpepper remained on the sidelines while George guided the Vikings to the postseason. The next season, Culpepper took over and guided Minnesota to the NFC Championship.
Mullens tends to turn the ball over at payday-loan-level rates, so it’s unlikely he could stay on the team for the rest of the season. It would be great for McCarthy and the Vikings, though, if he could keep the position intact through at least Week 10. What makes Week 10 significant? They have already completed the hardest portion of the schedule at that point. In Week 11, they take on the Tennessee Titans in a setting that is far less hostile than Lambeau Field. For a rookie who is going to be nervous, getting the first start on the road may also assist reduce the intensity of the atmosphere inside the stadium.
In addition, injuries do occur in football, which is a violent sport. Could Darnold last a 17-game season, even if he performed well? Throughout his first four seasons as a starter, he missed games. After Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles, Mullens’ back ailment during training last year forced the Vikings to trade for Josh Dobbs. Cousins is unique in that, prior to that, he had never missed a game due to injury.
Maybe O’Connell’s playing career has left him damaged in addition to the way he handled Haskins. In the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots selected O’Connell, a standout quarterback from San Diego State. Before retiring in 2012, O’Connell spent five years bouncing around six different teams, and his career never really took off. When talking about his “quarterback journey” and how it benefited him in his post-playing career as a position coach and coordinator, he brings this up. O’Connell has personal experience with how things can go wrong for a young quarterback.
McCarthy needs to hit certain marks in order to move up the depth chart, but we may never find out. But if the Vikings of 2023 taught us anything, it’s that football is unpredictable. That means Minnesota may move quickly to implement even the best plan to start McCarthy in the starting lineup. McCarthy’s continued success will make it difficult for O’Connell and the Vikings to ignore, even though it may not be the best course of action.