After the 2023 season, the Minnesota Vikings and QB Kirk Cousins have agreed to go their separate ways. Cousins has signed a lucrative long-term contract with Atlanta. That leaves the Vikings with a choice: Will they find a QB through free agency, or will they draft one of their two first-round picks?
Minnesota chose the latter option and drafted former Michigan QB and 2023 national champion JJ McCarthy. The 21-year-old was the fifth QB taken in the first round. He was the fifth QB taken in the first 10 picks. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Vikings rookie QB JJ McCarthy has signed a four-year, $21.85 million fully guaranteed contract.
All signs point to JJ McCarthy being the Vikings QB of the future.
Source: Minnesota Vikings’ 10th overall pick JJ McCarthy has signed a four-year, fully guaranteed contract worth $21.85 million that includes a $12.71 million bonus and a team option for the fifth year. pic.twitter.com/Cc9CE8A4nj
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 19, 2024
The Minnesota Vikings need to trade up to select QB JJ McCarthy in the 2024 NFL Draft. Caleb Williams, Jaden Daniels, Drake Maye and Michael Penix Jr. were all selected ahead of McCarthy. The Vikings’ QB options are starting to dwindle and they need to act quickly on McCarthy. He’s not the most polished QB in this class, but he’s a proven winner when the right players are around him. Head coach Kevin O’Connell knows McCarthy is a work in progress.
So the team brought in veteran QB Sam Darnold. McCarthy is unlikely to be the Vikings QB who will start in Week 1. Minnesota’s bye is Week 6. Darnold could start the first five games of the season, giving JJ McCarthy more time to learn the offense and prepare for his first start. If the rookie is ready, he could be acquired after the bye and start the last 12 games of the 2024 season.
that much #Vikings Signed first-round pick QB JJ McCarthy to a four-year, $21.85 million fully guaranteed contract, which includes a $12.71 million signing bonus and a team option for the fifth year. @AdamSchefter. pic.twitter.com/syZdv24xG9
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) July 19, 2024
JJ McCarthy’s best season at Michigan was 2,991 yards, 22 touchdowns, and four interceptions in 2023. Modern college football offenses are pass-oriented, but McCarthy played on a run-first team. The young QB will have to adjust to NFL play-calling and be prepared to pass more. It will be interesting to see how JJ McCarthy plays with the Vikings after being questioned coming out of Michigan. He’s a proven winner, but does the QB have what it takes to succeed at the next level?
