Vikings assess J.J. McCarthy's future after uneven rookie season

The Minnesota Vikings announced Kyler Murray as the starter for the upcoming season, leaving 23-year-old quarterback J.J. McCarthy as the backup. McCarthy, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 draft, finished last season with the second-worst passer rating among quarterbacks with at least 155 attempts, throwing more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (11) and posting modest yardage.

A defensive coach with the Vikings said, "He is talented. If he can learn how to manage a game and not do too much and not do more than what's required of him, I still think he can be a starter."

An NFL front-office official added, "Just looked last year like a young player who was still trying to find his confidence. His accuracy was a little bit inconsistent. He was more in a developmental state and took a lot of sacks."

Despite the setbacks, several league scouts and executives say McCarthy’s physical tools—size, mobility and arm strength—remain attractive. One source compared his trajectory to other early first-round quarterbacks who later became backups, noting that unlike Baker Mayfield or Sam Darnold, McCarthy has not yet shown stretches of play that would make teams comfortable betting on a turnaround.

Injury concerns also factored into his limited progress; he missed his rookie year with a knee injury and suffered a high-ankle sprain that sidelined him for five games last season. Nonetheless, some front-office contacts believe he could still earn a starting opportunity, either with Minnesota or another team, if he improves consistency and game management.

The Vikings’ coaching staff, led by head coach Kevin O'Connell, cited ongoing inconsistency during training camp as the reason for naming Murray the starter before the preseason began. McCarthy’s next step will be to compete for playing time and demonstrate growth in the areas identified by league observers.