Anonymous NFL Executive: Vikings “Absolutely Crazy” for Opting for New QB1
Just about every NFL executive is going to have an opinion. And, to be sure, there’s some wisdom in listening in on what they have to say. There’s a reason why these individuals find employment in the NFL.
On The Athletic, Mike Sando leaned on the insights from several to inform his analysis of Minnesota’s quarterback situation. The 3-2 Vikings have been working through more than their fair share of turmoil (most notably, the ample injuries). Would things be any different had the move been to roll with Sam Darnold rather than J.J. McCarthy?
NFL Executive Talks “Crazy” Vikings QB Decision
In a lot of ways, digging back into the issue is somewhat silly.
The Vikings made their decision back in March. The widespread understanding is that Minnesota had some level of interest in retaining Darnold or Daniel Jones. Crucially, each had to come back at a certain price, one that wasn’t exorbitant. Each decided to take their talents elsewhere, opting to chase the chance to start since Minnesota was always likely to hand things over to the youthful McCarthy.
Not everyone is convinced that Minnesota acted wisely. Consider one take on things from the Sando article:
“I thought it was absolutely crazy what they did,” an exec from another team said, “and I thought it was crazy when they did it. To take a quarterback (Darnold) who won that many games and to go to J.J. McCarthy, who you don’t know can play, I just don’t get it.”
Sando goes on to offer some background on the decision: “The Vikings considered re-signing Darnold, but that would have been expensive, and it would have come at McCarthy’s expense. Paying to keep Darnold also might have prevented Minnesota from splurging in free agency.”
And then the finances for Danny Dimes: “The Vikings offered $15 million per year to Jones, but he took $14 million from Indianapolis, presumably on the thinking that he could beat out Anthony Richardson easier than he could beat out McCarthy.”
At a certain point in 2024, Kirk Cousins was playing very good football for the Falcons. He would eventually be benched, becoming an albatross rather than the leading Falcon. No such fate appears to be in front of either Darnold nor Jones. The point, rather, is merely to suggest that more time is needed (something Sando acknowledges).
Other executives commented on the McCarthy plan in Minnesota.
One insists that the Vikings “were just kind of stuck.” The decision to roll with the McCarthy/Sam Howell twosome in the offseason wasn’t pristine: “I think they certainly could have made a better choice.”
Howell is no longer a Viking. He’s an Eagles backup after getting traded away.
Sam Darnold is playing reasonably impressive football with the Seahawks. The veteran is completing a sizzling 73.1% of his passes — don’t forget his career completion rate was coming in below 60% prior to his Vikings employment — while accumulating 1,246 passing yards, 9 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.
He has his Seahawks at 3-2, the exact same record as Minnesota. He’s offering this level of play while working under his three-year contract for a touch beyond $100 million.
Meanwhile, Daniel Jones has led the Colts to 4-1. A high-level athlete, Jones has completed 71.3% of his passes for 1,290 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Rounding things out are 3 rushing touchdowns.
J.J. McCarthy has been playing poorly. The 22-year-old quarterback is completing just 58.5% of his passes for 301 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. No doubt, the statistics need to improve, but the young arm does need more time to listen, learn, and level-up.
Several years from now, everyone can make confident assertions about whether the Vikings made the correct decision by moving on from Sam Darnold in favor of J.J. McCarthy. All anyone has in October of 2025 is best guesses that are based on incomplete evidence.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
