The Minnesota Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 pick in the 2024 draft expecting him to be the team’s long-term solution at quarterback. Sam Darnold signed with the Vikings on a one-year deal that was meant to serve as a bridge until McCarthy was ready to start.
Unfortunately for the national championship-winning quarterback for Michigan, McCarthy suffered a torn meniscus injury in August that required season-ending surgery. Darnold had a surprise season, leading the Vikings to a 14-3 regular season record.
Darnold made a good case for Minnesota to extend his contract during the season. However, a 31-9 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 18 and a 27-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the wild card round has made the Vikings’ decision at quarterback more curious.
Do the Vikings extend, trade, or let Darnold walk in free agency? What do they do with the No. 10 pick in the draft, a quarterback who has never made an NFL start and could turn out to be a
Minnesota Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy unsure of his future
Aug 10, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) drops back against the Las Vegas Raiders in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
During an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show, McCarthy said he didn’t know what the Vikings would do. He said the decision goes above head coach Kevin O’Connell.
“With Coach O’Connell, he’s one of the most genuine guys I know and our conversations have, you just been nothing about the greatest thing for the Minnesota Vikings,” McCarthy said. “At the end of the day, there’s a lot of things that are certainly above my pay grade and some things above his pay grade…
“So just being able to just be in the moment with him every time I get the chance to interact with him and really pick his brain because, you know, those are a lot of moments that I can mess up thinking about the future, thinking about the uncertainties that, you know, I can’t do anything about.”
McCarthy is afraid of Sam Darnold being extended
Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) with quarterbacks coach Josh McCown against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
McCarthy just wants a fair opportunity from the Vikings to compete for the starting job. McCarthy hinted he might not get a fair chance to become QB1 if Minnesota pays Darnold in free agency.
“All I could ask for is a fair opportunity,” McCarthy said. “That’s the one thing that I feel like everybody’s given and it’s fundamental and when money gets involved, things get complicated and reps get skewed and there’s different things that come into the whole political world that everyone talks about.
“But I really just have to focus on controlling what I can control. My feelings don’t matter. Like, I’m not getting any grace. There’s no sympathy.”
Aug 10, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) and center Michael Jurgens (65) warm up before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports