How will Minnesota Vikings redshirt rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy fare in 2025?
McCarthy won a National Championship with the Michigan Wolverines in 2023 before being selected 10th overall in the 2024 Draft. The heir apparent in Kevin O’Connell’s QB-friendly offense, McCarthy was sidelined for his entire rookie campaign with a torn meniscus.
Now, it is his turn to sling balls to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and others.
Here is what Jefferson had to say about his new quarterback, via Jason Fitz of Yahoo Sports:
“Our lockers are right next to each other, so every chance that I get to talk to him about football, about anything that goes on outside of football. Just try to get to know him as much as I can because when the season comes and whenever we’re locked in, I want him to be just as confident as I am of him to make plays out there.”
Confidence comes in abundance with McCarthy, who, before arriving on campus in Ann Arbor, tweeted to Michigan fans about staying calm during a historically bad start to the season. He had not even taken a snap for the Wolverines, yet, and was already assuring them that the reinforcements were coming.
McCarthy’s situation in Minnesota should be no different. While he may not lead them to a title within three years of starting, he enters an incredibly helpful system and should thrive with unstoppable targets like Jefferson.
O’Connell knows quarterbacks, and he knows how little it takes to get Jefferson the ball. Expect McCarthy’s confidence to grow rapidly this fall.
