Reporter Spills the Beans on Vikings’ Strategy for Near Future
It’s been all about the quarterback position for the Minnesota Vikings this offseason. Following Sam Darnold’s Pro Bowl year, handing him a new deal was certainly an option. The Vikings ultimately said no thanks. Then, Aaron Rodgers appeared in the news.
Reporter Reveals Vikings’ Strategy for Foreseeable Future
Once again, the club finally decided that they would rather stick with J.J. McCarthy. The last glimmer of hope for proponents of the theory was squashed when Rodgers signed with the Steelers last week.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler appeared on Sunday’s SportsCenter to talk about Rodgers, and he added a nugget about Kevin O’Connell’s Vikings.
“Rodgers definitely had interest in playing for the Vikings,” Fowler claimed. “He was looking at playing for one of those elite type play callers, like Kevin O’Connell, but the Vikings plan is clear for what I’m told, they saw this as a three-year window right now to win a championship with a really good quarterback they like on a rookie deal that can build around them with some pieces. They’re going to go for it, without Rodgers officially, now.”
It’s not hard to see why a quarterback would be interested in playing for the purple franchise. The organization employs Justin Jefferson, arguably the best receiver in all of football, who can make any quarterback look good on any given play. Jordan Addison is a premier number two option on the outside, and T.J. Hockenson, if fully healthy, is another Pro Bowler.
The offensive line had been an issue for years, but the decision-makers made some big investments this offseason to fix it. Donovan Jackson, Will Fries, and Ryan Kelly will help the quarterback and the running back crew, headlined by Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason.
And then there’s, of course, the head coach and offensive mastermind. Kevin O’Connell is the reigning Coach of the Year, as the Pro Bowl-caliber play he got out of Darnold turned heads around the league. He seems to be able to get the most out of every quarterback.
Finally, the defense deserves a mention. One of the best units in the league makes life easy for a quarterback because he doesn’t have to put up 35 points and 400 yards weekly to come away with a victory.
All of those items make passers want to be the QB1 in the Twin Cities.
However, the Vikings drafted their quarterback of the future in 2024, and he fits that three-year plan perfectly because that’s how long he is under contract, and by then, we’ll know if he’s the real deal or not.
Jefferson, Addison (including the fifth-year option), Hockenson, Christian Darrisaw, and O’Connell are all under contract for that three-year stretch.
The roster is stacked at pretty much every position, and that would hardly be possible had they signed another expensive quarterback. Rodgers, it is noteworthy, though, signed one of the cheapest starter contracts of any QB in the league.
Still, to maximize the three-year window, the Vikings didn’t want to make another transition at QB. No, it’s McCarthy’s team for those three seasons, barring catastrophe. Simultaneously to trying to win the chip, they can determine whether the Michigan alumnus is the one. That wouldn’t be possible with Rodgers throwing the passes Jefferson’s way for an entire year.
It is a little risky to go all-in with McCarthy, but it’s the logical consequence of drafting him last year.
The reports out of Eagan are all positive, and we have players galore claiming he’s ready for the opportunity. The most recent one was Harrison Phillips, a team captain on the defensive side, who compared his demeanor to that of a young Josh Allen.
His first real NFL action will come in three months when he will travel to Chicago to take on the Chicago Bears. While rookie mistakes can be expected, he has the luxury of playing on a team that features all the advantages listed earlier.
McCarthy, 22, claimed he was ready for the starting job last month. The Vikings are ready to give it to him for the foreseeable future.
It’s a championship core, the Vikings believe. If they are right, it will be a fun ride.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.
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