Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah revealed the team’s plans for quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who the team drafted No. 10 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. McCarthy was sidelined all season due to a preseason knee injury, but he remains central in the franchise’s future.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Backs ‘Obsessed’ J.J. McCarthy for Vikings Success in 2025
Adofo-Mensah expressed confidence in the development of the former Michigan QB.
“He’s on the field, throwing and training,” the Vikings’ GM said on Thursday, Jan. 16. “He looks great. You talk about a kid who’s just obsessed with football and loves being around the game. So, we’re excited about what we have in him.”
This optimism from the Vikings front office will shape McCarthy’s confidence and make him believe he is ready to take over as Minnesota’s starter in 2025.
McCarthy’s rookie year in Minnesota can be termed a “redshirt year,” but he didn’t spend time away from the field. He was close to the team all season long.
“It’s a redshirt year, but mentally, the process that they had, just in our exit meetings with him, just talking about how much he learned the year compared to other years in his football life, [it was] just exponential, which you would expect for a young player in this building,” Adofo-Mensah added.
The timing for McCarthy to be read couldn’t be more critical, as Sam Darnold’s future with the team hangs in the balance after a disastrous finish to the 2024 season. Darnold struggled big time in the Wild Card game against the Los Angeles Rams, taking nine sacks and throwing for just 4.1 net yards per attempt.
Darnold finished the season with respectable stats — 35 touchdowns and 254.1 passing yards per game. However, his inconsistencies under pressure and in clutch moments hurt the team badly and have raised doubts about his long-term viability.
The Vikings’ decision at quarterback will define their offseason. While McCarthy represents hope for the future, his readiness for 2025 remains uncertain.
Adofo-Mensah acknowledged the unpredictability around the QB situation, saying, “I can’t sit here and tell you I know anything for certain. That position is about talent and preparation — and he’s got those things in spades. So, if that’s the course of action we decide, we’ll go in there confidently.”
With the Vikings’ limited cap space and Darnold’s potentially dwindling market value, Minnesota may be forced to accelerate McCarthy’s timeline. From the fans’ perspective, their only option is to wait and see if the young signal-caller is ready to live up to his first-round billing and lead the Vikings into a new era.
