Vikings Allegedly Waiting on One Domino for Rookie Contract Signing
Minnesota Vikings 1st-Rounders J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner curiously haven’t signed their rookie contracts. And with training camp five days away, the situation is turning heads.
Vikings Allegedly Waiting on One Domino for Rookie Contract Signing
According to ProFootballlTalk.com, the Vikings are — well, were — waiting for the Chicago Bears to sign Caleb Williams, the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, before putting pen to paper with McCarthy.
For clarity, Williams signed his rookie deal mere hours after the PFT publication.
PFT’s Mike Florio theorized about Minnesota’s waiting game: “One possible explanation is that the Vikings want to see what happens with the Caleb Williams contract before finalizing things with McCarthy, the tenth overall pick. If the unverified social-media chatter that McCarthy wants his full signing bonus right away is accurate, that would make sense.”
After the Williams finalization on Tuesday, McCarthy, Turner, and Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Amarius Mims remain the only three 1st-Rounders unsigned from the 2024 class.
“If Williams doesn’t get his full signing bonus right away as the first overall selection, it’s easier to tell McCarthy that, at most, he’ll get the same payment schedule that Williams received,” Florio continued. “With the contracts for draft picks slotted as to value, there are three major issues for haggling: (1) signing bonus cash flow; (2) language to void remaining guarantees; (3) offset language as to the remaining guarantees.”
He also claimed, “A source with knowledge of the situation says that the Vikings haven’t engaged much in negotiating the contract.”
In June, Pioneer Press’ Charley Walters wrote about McCarthy’s situation, “Rumors persist that the rookie QB wants all of his signing bonus upfront with no deferrals.”
That revelation confirmed social media rumors about McCarthy’s contract standing, and the hubbub won’t cease until McCarthy is formally signed.
Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling joined KFAN on Monday and said about McCarthy’s contract, “It’s one of those things where deadlines tend to spur action on this stuff. My guess is it is done late next week before they are on the field, especially for a guy like J.J. McCarthy, who they do not want missing time.”
Rookies cannot participate fully in training camp until their deals are official.
“They want him out there absorbing as much as he possibly can, and I think that will put a little more of an urgency sort of thing into it,” Goessling added.
Overall, if the PFT reporting is correct, Williams’ deal standing in the way of the Vikings + McCarthy has been lifted, and the young quarterback could make it official at any minute.
Otherwise, Sunday would involve a McCarthy-less or Turner-less start to training camp.
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 Vikings 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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