There’s Another Wild J.J. McCarthy Theory
Last week, J.J. McCarthy was labeled a QB3 candidate in 2024 — not a QB1, as his draft stock should suggest.
There’s Another Wild J.J. McCarthy Theory
Fast-forward a few days, and one voice claims the Minnesota Vikings wanted Michael Penix Jr. during April’s draft, making it two bold McCarthy theories in a week.
SKOR North’s Judd Zulgad recently said on Purple Daily, “I’ve heard rumblings on Penix that the Vikings did love him, and they liked his arm. And they liked him more than McCarthy.”
Penix Jr. ended up with the Atlanta Falcons — Kirk Cousins’ new team — after a stunning draft night development. Draft heads expected the Falcons to draft an EDGE rusher, like Dallas Turner from Alabama, who ultimately landed with the Vikings, but Atlanta went against the grain by drafting the oldest quarterback in the class to sit behind Cousins.
In fact, Atlanta was the only thing at all separating Minnesota from possibly ending up with Penix Jr., whether it wanted the Washington quarterback or not. Had the Falcons shocked the world by selecting McCarthy, well, the board was down to Penix Jr. or Bo Nix for Vikings quarterback options — inside a draft where Minnesota very vividly sought a quarterback of the future.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah ultimately scooped McCarthy out of Round 1 with the 10th overall pick after a trade up the board with the New York Jets. As for Zulgad’s theory, it will never be confirmed or denied. The Vikings won’t profess any love for Penix Jr. in retrospect, instead banking on McCarthy for the foreseeable future. It’s a Vikings whodunit in that regard.
Meanwhile, like Penix Jr., McCarthy could be on deck for reservist duty in 2024. Pioneer Press’ Charley Walters forecasted a “redshirt” year for McCarthy last weekend, meaning the man could be on deck for little to no playing time as a rookie. “It will be a redshirt year for rookie QB J.J. McCarthy, with Sam Darnold the starter and Nick Mullens the backup. It appears the transition plan will be to turn the starting job over to McCarthy in 2025,” Walters wrote.
Walters’ reporting mirrored the word last week from KFAN. Paul Allen, the voice of the Vikings, mentioned McCarthy’s stakes on his show. “I would make it prohibitively favored in that it would be Sam Darnold starting, Nick Mullens as the backup, and then J.J. McCarthy as the 3rd QB … But this is an opportunity for McCarthy,” Allen said on July 8th.
Allen added, “Puncher’s chance would be too strong, but long-ish shot fashion to win the two jobs in training camp. And I don’t necessarily know if it’s going to happen, but I would make 3 QBs on the active roster prohibitively favored.”
Overall, Penix Jr. was on the Vikings’ radar during the draft’s lead-up but only as a contingency plan, at least according to the draft community. We shall see how soon the man takes over Cousins, who will turn 36 next month.
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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