One of the most consistent rumors throughout the pre-draft process was that the Minnesota Vikings were looking to move up for a quarterback, and they confirmed that rumor when they jumped just one spot to select Michigan National Champion J.J. McCarthy at No. 10 overall.
Fans and everyone in the organization have shared their excitement since draft night, and the Vikings social media team recently shared head coach Kevin O’Connell’s first message to his new QB.
The video showed McCarthy walking into O’Connell’s office for the first time and the pair embracing before looking out over their future training camp area, and O’Connell said “I appreciate you, throughout the process because it gave everybody kind of a real understanding, just the connection we were able to build.”
HC Kevin O’Connell’s first message to #Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy #Skol
: @Vikings / IG pic.twitter.com/Ha1FcTRqHV
— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) May 5, 2024
McCarthy is still riding the high of his National Championship and rode that momentum all the way to the top 10 of the draft after throwing 44 touchdowns and just nine picks in his last two years at Michigan.
It’s unclear if he’ll start right away in Minnesota, as he just turned 21 years old and the team signed veteran Sam Darnold to a 1-year deal this offseason to potentially serve as the bridge quarterback.
That being said, if McCarthy proves to be ready, he could take this job right away.
No matter when he takes over, he has big shoes to fill with Kirk Cousins leaving behind a big void at the QB position for this franchise.
You couldn’t ask for a better situation to walk into, and it’ll be fun to see McCarthy run this ship whenever that day comes.
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