J.J. McCarthy has been the most enigmatic quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft out of all of them. McCarthy was viewed after winning the National Championship as a fringe first-round pick who might drop to the second round based on the needs of teams after transactions involving free agents. McCarthy moved up to a reliable Top 15 pick after a great NFL Combine. Now, according to a Forbes report, McCarthy might go as high as a top-five choice if all the cards fall in the proper place.
It Looks Like The Minnesota Vikings Are Preparing for J.J. McCarthy
The Minnesota Vikings swiftly signed LA Rams backup quarterback Sam Darnold after losing their top quarterback, Kirk Cousins, to the Atlanta Falcons earlier this week. It appeared strange and suspicious that they picked up Darnold so quickly. Although Darnold is a passable quarterback with the ability to be a successful NFL starter, he doesn’t seem like the type of player who gets scooped up the day after a franchise quarterback is lost.
The Vikings acquired Darnold in addition to trading picks for Houston, where the Texans received No. 42, 188, and a 2025 second-round pick, while the Vikings received the No. 23 and 232nd pick this year. While it might not seem like much help to move up, the Vikings also own the No. 11 overall pick, which might be appealing to a team like the Atlanta Falcons at No. 8 or the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 5, who aren’t really searching for a quarterback or an exceptionally high pick.
In order to give J.J. McCarthy time to adjust to the NFL or at the very least create a fierce quarterback competition before the season begins, the Vikings would have a strong choice in Sam Darnold. In any case, Darnold is unquestionably regarded as one of the best backup quarterbacks and, for many teams—possibly even the Vikings in the upcoming campaign—a starter with room to grow.
The Vikings are unlikely to select a quarterback in the first round. If Darnold doesn’t perform well or gets hurt, they might be okay with sticking with him in 2024, but they don’t want to be in a position where he’s their only option. The Vikings were forced to use their fourth-string quarterback the previous season because they lacked a reliable backup who could win games.
It is highly likely that the first three quarterbacks selected in the NFL Draft will be chosen by the Bears, Commanders, and Patriots. Throwers are needed by all three teams. It feels like Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye will be the first three players off the board, despite some reports that the Patriots would choose McCarthy over Maye.
Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix are two more undrafted first-round quarterbacks. McCarthy, who feels like the player with the lowest potential but the greatest floor given his track record over the previous two seasons at Michigan, is still a little riskier than both players.
The Vikings appear to have the money and first-round selections if they think McCarthy is good enough.occur if they desire him intensely enough.
