The Minnesota Vikings have a new franchise quarterback.
However, that doesn’t mean he’s going to get the keys right out of the gate.
Most analysts believe J.J. McCarthy will start the season sitting behind Sam Darnold, who got a very lucrative one-year deal in the offseason.
Now, Andrew Krammer of the Star Tribune reports McCarthy might start the season even further down on the depth chart (via Access Vikings and The Purple Persuasion).
According to @Andrew_Krammer via @AccessVikings, #Vikings fans might have to get used to seeing rookie QB J.J. McCarthy as QB3
“It’s going to be about J.J. McCarthy being QB3, which you might have to get used to that as well, because Nick Mullens is probably going to be on… pic.twitter.com/zlcil7m1mf
— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) May 25, 2024
Per Krammer, McCarthy will most likely be QB3 behind Nick Mullens, as he was the second quarterback on the team when the offseason started.
That’s a bit of a hot take, but it wouldn’t be the first time a rookie quarterback enters the season as the third-stringer.
Even so, regardless of where he ends up in the pecking order to start the year, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him take the field as a starter at some point in the season.
The Vikings were quite high on McCarthy for most of the pre-draft process, and he was the most notorious riser besides Michael Penix Jr.
Kevin O’Connell has a QB-friendly system in which any young and first-year quarterback could thrive right out of the gate, not to mention a solid set of weapons at his disposal.
There have been positive reviews on McCarthy, and the team will do everything in their favor to put him in the best situation, even if that means being a little patient and not throwing him into the fire right away.
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