J.J. McCarthy Receives Another Ringing Endorsement
The Minnesota Vikings selected J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft — and so far, so good.
J.J. McCarthy Receives Another Ringing Endorsement
The team began training camp one week ago, featuring a quarterback battle between McCarthy and veteran Sam Darnold, and while 40 days remain until the start of the regular season, McCarthy is making the case for a starter’s gig sooner rather than later.
His teammate, offensive guard Dalton Risner, even offered a ringing endorsement last week. “J.J., I mean, I see why they drafted the dude in the first round and at the pick that they did. Because he’s a good dude. He’s a good human being. He’s a stud,” Risner told CBS Sports.
McCarthy has looked sharp by rookie standards at camp and turns heads on the whole, regardless of age. He’s poised on the practice field and energetic on a microphone.
Risner added, “I love what they’re doing with him; they’re not just throwing him in the fire right away. I think they’re giving him time to develop. I’d put all my chips on that dude in a couple years, man.”
The Vikings leadership hasn’t been shy this offseason about proclaiming McCarthy’s development as gradual, establishing “benchmarks” for the 21-year-old to meet before game-readiness. It’s just that McCarthy doesn’t look wildly unprepared so far this summer, intensifying speculation that Minnesota could roll him as QB1 earlier than expected.
Risner made sure to compliment Darnold, the veteran, as well. “He flows with the guys. He’s confident. You can tell that he’s gonna be able to fill that role,” the lineman opined. “Sometimes with quarterbacks, especially guys that haven’t been here and they’re new, you wonder, how quickly will they fill that role and be the confidence to be the guy? Because you need that as a quarterback. You can’t be going into a huddle or a practice and being like, this guy’s not confident. This guy doesn’t really gel with the group. Sam did that instantly.”
One week ago, head coach Kevin O’Connell said about Darnold vs. McCarthy, “I have no preconceived, pre-set chart depth chart in my mind. I said at the end of spring that Sam was the No. 1 quarterback.”
The battle for QB is real and could be tightening by the moment.
McCarthy told reporters last week, “I’m just focused on learning to get better, and improve the weakness that I have with my game and learn my teammates’ strengths and try to amplify them every chance I get. We’re off to a great start so far. My ultimate goal is to get the most out of every single day. When the time comes, it comes. I’m just training every single day so that when that time does come, I’m going to be ready.”
And if Risner is a credible source — he probably is — Minnesota made the correct selection with McCarthy.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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