JJ McCarthy was the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but has yet to take an official snap after tearing his meniscus last preseason.
After a year rehabbing, McCarthy comes into 2025 as the “Undisputed starting quarterback”, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
JJ McCarthy Was Always QB1 for the Minnesota Vikings in 2025
McCarthy led Michigan to a National Championship in 2023 and skyrocketed up draft boards. His final two seasons had rather pedestrian numbers, but the Vikings made him a top 10 pick. Michigan’s run-heavy, ball-control offense limited McCarthy to 5,710 yards between 2022 and 2023, but he threw 44 touchdowns in those two years.
He competed with Darnold for Minnesota’s starting job in 2024 and threw two touchdowns in the team’s preseason opener. However, he reported knee soreness the following week and was placed on injured reserve after undergoing surgery.
Darnold went on to have the best season of his career, throwing for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He led the Vikings to a 14-3 record, but back-to-back poor performances to end the season essentially ended his chances of returning as Minnesota’s starting quarterback.
Once Darnold, Daniel Jones, and Nick Mullens left in free agency earlier this offseason, McCarthy was the only quarterback on the roster. The team added Brett Rypien and traded for Sam Howell during the draft, but McCarthy is expected to be Minnesota’s starter once training camp opens in July.
Vikings fan account The Purple Persuasion tweeted a clip of Schefter discussing McCarthy with the message, “.@AdamSchefter on J.J. McCarthy and how he was the QB1 plan “all along”. “Let’s not mistake the fact J.J. McCarthy is [the@Vikings] QB1 and he is been planned to be QB1 all along”. (Via: @ESPN)”
.@AdamSchefter on J.J. McCarthy and how he was the QB1 plan “all along”.
“Let’s not mistake the fact J.J. McCarthy is [the @Vikings] QB1 and he is been planned to be QB1 all along”.
(Via: @ESPN) pic.twitter.com/YwYhGHggOA
— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol)
Schefter said, “Despite the fact that they tried to keep Sam Darnold. They tried to keep Daniel Jones. They had discussions with Aaron Rodgers. They looked at other quarterback options. Let’s not mistake the fact JJ McCarthy is their QB1 and he is planned to be their QB1 all along.
“You heard JJ McCarthy talk today, coming off the torn meniscus knee injury last year, that he believes that he is supremely ready to take on the challenge of becoming the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. They believe that, too.
“We still need to see him out there. He still needs to prove he can be effective at the NFL level. But there’s no doubt going into training camp, despite the fact that the team traded for Sam Howell on the final day of the draft, that JJ McCarthy heads into the season as the undisputed Vikings starting quarterback.”
McCarthy inherits a team that was one win away from the number one seed in the NFC, and an offense that finished No. 13 in PFSN’s Offense+ metric. Minnesota’s offensive line was the unit’s weak spot last season. The team addressed it by adding Ryan Kelly and Will Fries in free agency and drafting Donovan Jackson in the first round.
With all the offensive weapons returning, McCarthy is set up well to lead the Vikings back to the playoffs in 2025.