J.J. McCarthy Has Already Stolen Some Hearts
After six years with quarterback Kirk Cousins as the organization’s quarterback, it was time for a change. Cousins joined the Atlanta Falcons in free agency, while the Vikings pivoted to the cheaper Sam Darnold before picking J.J. McCarthy in the draft. If the 21-year-old develops well over the next few years, he can be the franchise’s future at the most important position.
J.J. McCarthy Has Already Stolen Some Hearts
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah paid the tenth overall draft pick to bring him to Minnesota. His scouting report featured the requisite physical tools, including an intriguing mobility Cousins lacked and an underrated arm strength. Draft pundits, former teammates, and coaches have also praised him for his leadership and mature personality.
Of course, there is a difference between leading young players at college and a locker room full of experienced veterans in the NFL. However, McCarthy didn’t need much of an adjustment period.
As he is the main attraction, all his new teammates are asked about him when they appear in the media, and this week, the duo of Joshua Metellus and Blake Cashman complimented him.
Metellus joined Sky Sports on Wednesday and said about his new teammate:
He’s going to figure it out because he always does, and I think he’s going to be really good for the team. He brings good energy, and you can tell he’s a leader by nature, so I think he’ll be really good for the locker room.
Josh Metellus
Team captain Metellus has only played under Cousins so far, excluding the one-week debacle with Sean Mannion in 2021 and last year after Cousins’ injury.
Cashman arrived in free agency. He experienced a breakout season as a Houston Texan last season and has been in the league for five campaigns with plenty of different passers. Earlier this week, he showed up on the Jim Rome Show, raving about the first-year thrower:
Twenty-one years old but a great young man. He is a leader; he is eager to learn. A lot of young guys, sometimes can come in and be a little timid or shy, but he is walking around the locker room, big smile on his face, shaking hands, getting to know everybody.
I didn’t know much about his game before, winning followed him at Michigan, but I didn’t realize how much heat he can put on the ball. He’s got a great long ball and even those tight windows at the next level, he can zip the ball past linebackers or safeties’s heads and squeeze it in those tight windows. That’s very promising to see and he’s going to be a great player for a long time. I can’t wait to just continue to see his growth and not only his development as a quarterback with his skills but also become an even smarter player.
Blake Cashman
Cashman was around last year’s rookie sensation C.J. Stroud, and he was in New York when Zach Wilson struggled as a rookie. He has seen both ends of the spectrum, and hopefully, McCarthy is closer to Houston’s signal-caller.
McCarthy has the skill set to become one of the better QBs in the league, but like all rookies, he will have an adjustment period. The good news is that the Vikings don’t have to rely on him early in his career because of Darnold’s presence.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell reportedly has set benchmarks for his development, and once he clears those marks, he could start. However, there will be a cautious approach, and he won’t see the field until he is completely ready.
McCarthy’s next opportunity to showcase his development will come in less than three weeks when training camp kicks off. There’s a high chance he will suit up in the preseason and get some reps in a live game. So far, there have only been positive reports from teammates (and from Adam Thielen) and reporters, which is promising.
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Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt