Questions Answered: Our QB1 Take, Rookie Minicamp Takeaway, James Lynch Mania
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the May 14th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Questions Answered: Our QB1 Take, Rookie Minicamp Takeaway, James Lynch Mania
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Q: If it were up to you, which Vikings quarterback would you start in Week 1?
Answer: J.J. McCarthy, unquestionably. So long as he isn’t a trainwreck at training camp and in the preseason.
We already consider 2024 a springboard to 2025, and if that means McCarthy takes his lumps while Minnesota finishes in the NFC North’s basement with a 6-11 record or so, let’s do it. McCarthy was said to be more game-ready than most rookies in this draft class. Why not show it off right away?
If McCarthy and Darnold are 1A and 1B finishing the preseason, we’d wholeheartedly endorse McCarthy as the QB1 in September. The “problem” is that the Vikings may disagree. The coaching staff could “take it easy” with McCarthy and let Darnold take the baton out of the gate.
Either option is acceptable, but we endorse McCarthy because patchover quarterbacks are dumb, especially if the rookie is ready.
Q: What was your top takeaway from Vikings rookie minicamp?
Answer: J.J. McCarthy passed the test. The stakes weren’t incredibly high, but the man looked the part.
McCarthy has the camera part down, and believe it or not, that’s important in the NFL. He wasn’t shy. He can lead.
Put it this way: The footage posted by Minnesota’s social media team signified a new era, and a good first impression was vital. McCarthy, though he couldn’t do all that much, passed the test. The man looks great in purple.
Q: Am I dumb to think James Lynch could possibly start for the 2024 Vikings?
A: You’re not dumb at all — it is not impossible if the man is healthy.
Of course, this doesn’t mean Lynch is a God among defensive tackles. It’s just that Minnesota’s current batch of DTs is a little puny on talent. Jerry Tillery, Jonah Williams, and Jonathan Bullard (among others) will compete, along with Lynch, for the job next to Harrison Phillips, and that’s a low bar to clear.
Lynch has performed wonderfully when healthy, meaning it’s more than fine to proffer Lynch-as-a-starter as a hot take. Because the Vikings organically drafted him, it would be a pretty cool development, as well.
We like it.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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