Questions Answered: The “Out of Nowhere Guy” for Vikings, Jaren Hall, J.J. McCarthy’s Impact
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the July 18th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Questions Answered: The “Out of Nowhere Guy,” Jaren Hall, J.J. McCarthy’s Impact
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: Like K.J. Osborn a few years ago, who’s one Vikings player you predict to show up out of nowhere this season?
Answer: Levi Drake Rodriguez, a defensive tackle.
The Vikings’ roster is begging for a DT to emerge, and because the franchise didn’t sign a high-profile player at the position like Arik Armstead or Christian Wilkins, someone, in theory, could emerge out of nowhere.
VikingsTerritory‘s Wes Johnson even nominated Drake Rodriguez for “Mr. Mankato” and explained last weekend, “LDR was the best-kept secret from the Vikings scouting department from Division II Texas A&M Commerce. He was dubbed this year’s Prospect X by The Athletic’s Kalyn Kahler for being the most overlooked prospect. LDR is a high-motor player already being heralded as a first-in, last-out dude.”
We’ll take it.
Q: Will Jaren Hall make the roster as the Vikings’ QB3?
Answer: This one could break either way — Nick Mullens or Jaren Hall — but we’ll predict Mullens as QB3 and Hall on the practice squad.
Kevin O’Connell experienced how injuries can ravage a season last year, and keeping Mullens over Hall could be a product of that lesson. Mullens is more game-ready to start than Hall, we think, so let’s predict Mullens as QB3.
KFAN’s Paul Allen even recently hinted that Mullens could be vying for QB2 against J.J. McCarthy. That scenario would assuredly put Hall on the practice squad.
Q: Predict J.J. McCarthy’s 2024 statline.
A: Four starts, sometime in December and January, with 800 passing yards, 6 total touchdowns, and 4 turnovers.
Sam Darnold will probably play well enough to secure the QB1 job for most of the season, but with the season winding down, Minnesota could — and should — turn to McCarthy for a peek at the future.
Minnesota will finish 2-2 in McCarthy’s starts, enough for optimism heading into the 2025 offseason.
We have this season pegged a lot like the 2014 Vikings. The franchise finished 7-9 that season, but no one was too mad about it because the future seemed rosy. Then, Minnesota won the division a year later.
Texans Sign Former Vikings Player
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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