Why Aren’t Vikings’ Head Coach and GM Attending JJ McCarthy’s Pro Day?
The Minnesota Vikings are trying to draft their quarterback of the future on April 25. Every decision that they have made so far this offseason, and going back to last offseason, have been in preparation for the 2024 NFL Draft. The only questions surround who that new franchise QB will be.
Many believe it will be Michigan quarterback, JJ McCarthy, who won a National Championship with the Wolverines last season, throwing for 2,991 yards (72.3% completion) with 22 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. So far, there hasn’t been a quarterback in the upcoming draft who has been connected to the Vikings more than JJ.
Minnesota Vikings not in attendance at JJ McCarthy’s Pro Day?
On Friday, McCarthy will hold his Pro Day in Ann Arbor. According to Matt Miller (ESPN), nine general managers and seven head coaches are scheduled to be in attendance. Neither Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah or head coach Kevin O’Connell is expected to be in attendance.
MICHIGAN pro day today. Nine general managers and seven head coaches are scheduled to attend.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) March 22, 2024
Not on that list? Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell.
Weird, right? In a vacuum, it would be a red flag or eyebrow raiser. Whatever you want to call it. But when the news of KAM and KOC’s absence hit the news wire, it wasn’t surprising to anyone who religiously follows the Vikings’ offseason (or anyone who religiously follows MinnesotaSportsFan.com).
Nothing to see here
If that’s you, then you already knew the Vikings have a private workout scheduled (also in Ann Arbor) with JJ McCarthy next week. A workout in which both O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah will reportedly (Albert Breer – SI) be in attendance for. Breer also noted that Josh McCown is expected to be at JJ’s Pro Day on Friday. [READ MORE]
They also had plans in motion for quarterbacks coaches Josh McCown and Grant Udinski to be in Ann Arbor for Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy’s pro day this Friday. Minnesota also arranged a private workout on campus with McCarthy for next week, with O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah set to make that trip.
Albert Breer – SI
The Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling went a step further to say that it’s likely we won’t see KOC or Kwesi at any of the top targets’ pro days over the next couple weeks. Instead, they plan to workout QB’s they are interested in privately.
My understanding is, the Vikings will opt for private workouts with a lot of these QBs. Gives them more opportunities to structure workouts based on what they want to evaluate. https://t.co/Z9QNN7X3NI
— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) March 22, 2024
How likely is it that McCarthy ends up a Viking next month? As of Friday morning, the Vikings are heavy -130 favorites (DraftKings) to land the 21-year-old quarterback next month. That’s a mindblowing number for a QB the Minnesota Vikings would likely have to trade up for.
A lot has to happen still, if the Vikings are going to end up with JJ McCarthy on their roster on draft night. To think that you have to pay $130 to bet $100 on something that should be very uncertain… is kind of insane. Point being, don’t read into the head coach and GM not being in Ann Arbor today.
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