QB Expert Would Take JJ McCarthy Over Everyone

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J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
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The Minnesota Vikings spent this offseason acting as though they could contend for the playoffs. That’s a pretty straightforward bit of logic considering they won 14 games last year.

It would be false to suggest that both the front seven and offensive lines aren’t better. The running back room is as well. When Jordan Addison returned from his suspension, the wide receiver room will likely be the best in the game thanks to the addition of Adam Thielen.

Of course none of it matters without a competent quarterback. Minnesota believes in what they have with J.J. McCarthy. They aren’t the only ones either.

ESPN Insider takes Minnesota Vikings JJ McCarthy for a ring

The number one most valuable thing you can have in an NFL locker room is a starting quarterback on a rookie contract. The roster flexibility that provides you is immense. Value brought by such a player is only capped by their performance. It’s certainly a good thing that ESPN insider Seth Wickersham is all in on J.J. McCarthy.

“I’m gonna go with J.J., how bout that? I met with Kevin O’Connell for the book [American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback] and he of course was a great college quarterback. Four-year starter at San Diego State. He got drafted by the Patriots, thought that he’d learn from [Tom} Brady and then take that knowledge elsewhere. His career essentially ended. We talked a lot about those scars and how that informs how he coaches quarterbacks and looks at them.

One of the things he did, was when he was getting these tryouts with teams, he would try to make the wow throw and knock the coaching staff over with it. He kept getting cut. He realized later, he went back and watched all of Brady’s game-winning drives in Super Bowls and big games, Montana’s, Elway’s, and what stood out was how mundane they were. They looked like they were doing spring practice even though the stakes couldn’t have been higher.

He realized that quarterbacking is really about doing the obvious thing that’s right in front of you at the highest level you possibly can. There’s a reason why Caleb Williams really liked Kevin O’Connell. He just knows how to speak quarterback…The theme of our segment, context matters.”

Seth Wickersham – Rich Eisen Show

As Eisen, a Michigan fan, was originally blown away by the suggestion Wickersham went on to dissect exactly why the fit is there. As he concluded his message, the senior writer simply stated “context matters.” That couldn’t ring more true.

Contextually we saw O’Connell get more out of Kirk Cousins. He got something out of Nick Mullens and Josh Dobbs. He got an incredible amount out of Sam Darnold, and he’s now getting the best piece of clay he’s had in the form of McCarthy.

It’s not necessarily that Wickersham doesn’t believe Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, or Drake Maye are not currently further along in their trajectory. The speed in which he believes O’Connell will get McCarthy to and beyond that plateau is where this is coming from.

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If Wickersham is right, and O’Connell has only continued to build the belief that he can develop quarterbacks, McCarthy will have ample opportunity to lead Minnesota Vikings fans to the promised land.

Minnesota kicks off their 2025 regular season on Monday September 8th against the Chicago Bears. It’s a Monday Night Football matchup at Soldier Field. The first time he takes the field as a start, McCarthy will do so as a captain.

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