Purple Q&A: Playoff Lesson, Vikings QB Decision, RB in 1st Round
Today, on January 23rd, after the disappointing playoff loss and final game of the year, PurplePTSD’s Janik Eckardt answers a trio of questions about the Minnesota Vikings. If you have questions for future editions of the Purple Q&A, please email them to [email protected].
Purple Q&A: Playoff Lesson, Vikings QB Decision, RB in 1st Round
Let’s get right to it.
Q: The Minnesota Vikings lost their only playoff game. What should they learn from it?
A: There are two primary lessons.
The first one is that elite quarterbacks win playoff games, and everyone else is a lottery ticket. Sam Darnold’s disappearing act was unacceptable, but it is what happens with non-elite QBs on the biggest stage, and it’s why the Vikings need to go in a different direction, regardless of regular season numbers. Darnold won’t just turn into a superstar in his late 20s.
Jared Goff had an off-day, too, and Darnold’s best-case scenario is a lasting career resurgence like Goff has had, but that doesn’t suddenly make him Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes.
The other lesson is that the trenches win football games. This is nothing new, but how the Rams toyed with Minnesota’s offensive line is quite concerning. The same thing happened in the 2019 divisional round game against the 49ers when the Vikings were steamrolled by San Francisco’s defense. That is simply not a Super Bowl recipe, and it’s time to fix the offensive line, regardless of the cost.
Q: Should the Vikings go with J.J. McCarthy or keep Sam Darnold?
The first answer likely gave it away, but it is time to hand the keys to 2025 sophomore J.J. McCarthy. He was drafted to be The Guy, and he hasn’t given any reason why he can’t be the next big thing.
McCarthy’s throw power drew some serious buzz in training camp, and folks began to speculate that he might have already challenged Darnold. Considering Darnold’s regular season play, that is even more exciting than everyone thought in August.
The Vikings LOVE McCarthy, and any trade speculation should be taken with a grain of salt. He’s O’Connell’s major project, and he should get the QB1 job handed to him unless there’s an unexpected but disastrous training camp performance.
Q: Although the “RBs don’t matter movement” exists, should the Vikings spend pick 24 for one?
The Vikings have numerous needs on their roster as currently constructed. That includes the offensive line, the defensive line, and the secondary. But the only viable running back on the roster is Ty Chandler, so that surely is one, too.
Running backs might not matter as much as they did 20 years ago, but they can still be game-changers. Jahmyr Gibbs and Saquon Barkley make a difference, and Derrick Henry does, too.
The Vikings shouldn’t just draft any running back, but if they think a future Pro Bowler is available at 24, why not pull the trigger? Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty is unlikely to be available that late, but crazier things have happened. Maybe O’Connell is intrigued by Kaleb Johnson or Quinshon Judkins.
There are other needs that could be addressed in the first round, but having another Adrian Peterson (those are very hard to find) or even Dalvin Cook in the backfield would make the offense borderline unfair.
Did the Vikings Draft the Wrong Guy?
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