Local Insider: J.J. McCarthy is Still the Minnesota Vikings Future

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NFL: Minnesota Vikings Training Camp
Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

As Minnesota Vikings‘ fans, we are all aware of how well current starting quarterback Sam Darnold is playing right now. Darnold is playing at a very high level and leading a lot of the key quarterback statistics. Although we are only three games into the 2024-25 NFL season, some fans are already hitching their allegiance to Darnold in 2025 and beyond.

Although Darnold is playing at an MVP level right now, there’s a still a million different ways this season can go. Not only that, the Minnesota Vikings spent a first-round draft pick in J.J. McCarthy this past April. Making McCarthy the highest drafted quarterback in franchise history. With the quarterback conundrum we have going on right now early in the season, who will be the starting quarterback in 2025?

This is J.J. McCarthy’s team in 2025 (barring a Super Bowl win)

Appearing on Skor North, local Minnesota Vikings’ insider Darren Wolfson (KSTP) enlightened fans on the quarterback state for 2025. And let’s just say, this is still McCarthy’s team.

There’s already been all this talk about what’s the future hold for Sam Darnold. I’ll just tell you… the Vikings think the world of J.J. McCarthy. To me, nothing has changed when looking at 2025. So let’s enjoy the moment. This is fun right now. I don’t see a scenario outside of hosting the Lombardi trophy in early February we can revisit this. I can understand that. But barring something like that, I still think this is J.J. McCarthy’s team in 2025.

Darren Wolfson (KSTP) via Skor North

Related: Former Falcons QB Has High Praise for Vikings’ Sam Darnold

It’s quite clear what Wolfson is saying here. Barring a Super Bowl win, this is still McCarthy’s team in 2025 and beyond. This makes complete sense if you put all the pieces of the puzzle together.

Why is it still J.J. McCarthy’s team?

If you peal back the layers of how general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has built this team, you can see that having a quarterback on a rookie contract is extremely important to him. Adofo-Mensah has said this before and it’s also clear they had this in mind with how they’ve structured deals such as wide receiver Justin Jefferson and left tackle Christian Darrisaw.

Not only that, but head coach Kevin O’Connell has proven that it may not even matter who the quarterback is as long as they are somewhat competent and skilled. Look what O’Connel has done with Kirk Cousins, Josh Dobbs (for a brief moment), Nick Mullens, and now Darnold. All these quarterback’s play have been elevated by O’Connell’s coaching and scheme. Why can’t O’Connell also do that for McCarthy?

It’s still way to early to have this discussion, but also shows you still how much the Minnesota Vikings plan to still use McCarthy in 2025 and beyond. Unfortunately, for some, Darnold is likely playing for a big payday somewhere else next season.

In the end, let’s enjoy the ride with Darnold and cheer for his success. If the Minnesota Vikings finally hoist the long awaited Lombardi trophy come February, this talker won’t matter anyways.

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