Vikings insider predicts whether team will start QB J.J. McCarthy Week 1

Well-known college football analyst Joel Klatt of Fox Sports is among those who believe Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell will look to start rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy over veteran Sam Darnold this September. 

For a piece published Thursday, though, Vikings reporter Alec Lewis of The Athletic explained why McCarthy may begin the regular season as a backup. 

"The Vikings do not want to rush McCarthy’s development," Lewis said. "Michigan’s offensive system contains some of the same concepts as head coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense. McCarthy also has experience playing under center. Still, Minnesota wants to treat this like a big-league baseball team would with a top prospect. Until all of the Vikings' decision-makers are convinced McCarthy is ready, it does not make sense to throw him into the fire." 

The Vikings moved up from the 11th overall pick to No. 10 overall to make McCarthy the fifth quarterback drafted last Thursday night. While Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated suggested back in March that Darnold could emerge this fall as a Comeback Player of the Year finalist similar to what Baker Mayfield achieved with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past season, Klatt argued on Wednesday that McCarthy could immediately thrive playing alongside Minnesota weapons such as wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, tight end T.J. Hockenson and running back Aaron Jones.

Lewis acknowledged that Minnesota's plan of letting McCarthy develop slowly is "contingent both on Darnold’s performance and the team’s willingness to turn to" backup Nick Mullens over McCarthy if Darnold either struggles or goes down with an injury. During the 2023 season, Mullens went 0-3 as a starter and completed 67.6% of 148 passes for 1,306 yards with seven touchdowns and eight interceptions. 

One wonders if Jefferson's contractual status could impact whether or when McCarthy plays this fall. The Vikings seemingly haven't come close to trading Jefferson this offseason, but his long-term commitment to the club will remain in question for as long as he is in the final year of his rookie deal. 

Assuming Minnesota wants to hold onto Jefferson beyond the 2024 season, keeping him happy and excited about the club's direction could become a significant goal for general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah over the next several months.