The Vikings’ Patient Approach to J.J. McCarthy’s Development
As the Minnesota Vikings continue to shape their quarterback depth chart, one thing is clear: J.J. McCarthy is not ready to take the reins just yet. According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, McCarthy is “squarely behind” Sam Darnold in the pecking order, with Nick Mullens often getting reps ahead of him as well.
Minnesota’s rookie quarterback is taking a backseat to Sam Darnold… for now.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. The Vikings signed Darnold this offseason to serve as a stopgap starter, and McCarthy, despite being tabbed as the quarterback of the future, is still just 21 years old and needs time to develop. His college career at Michigan was marked by a game-manager role, not as the focal point of the offense.
The Vikings’ star wide receiver is taking McCarthy under his wing.
Justin Jefferson, the Vikings’ star wide receiver, has already taken McCarthy under his wing, offering words of encouragement and advice. “I told him confidence is key, just coming into this league with confidence and being able to have that leadership just right off the bat being a rookie,” Jefferson said. “There’s going to be people to come and help. Of course, I’m going to be that main person to be in his ear and try to teach him and try to prepare him for what we’re about to go through.”
Darnold, who was once a young first-round quarterback thrust into the starting lineup before he was ready, can also lend an ear to McCarthy. The Vikings are taking a patient approach to McCarthy’s development, and it’s hard to blame them. After all, there’s no rush to thrust him into the starting lineup just yet.
Darnold is the stopgap starter, but McCarthy is the future.
The Vikings are playing the long game here, and it’s a smart move. By giving McCarthy time to develop, they can ensure that he’s ready to take the reins when the time comes. And with Darnold and Mullens ahead of him, McCarthy can learn from their experiences and grow as a quarterback.
The Vikings’ quarterback room is filled with talent and experience.
In the end, the Vikings’ patient approach to McCarthy’s development is the right one. It may not be the most exciting thing to watch, but it’s the best way to ensure that their young quarterback reaches his full potential.
