Dec 6, 2021; Orchard Park, New York, USA; ESPN analyst Randy Moss. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports.
Minnesota Vikings fans want to see Sam Darnold start the season for the purple team. Randy Moss disagrees.
Moss joined Kay Adams on Monday, covering an array of NFL-themed topics while also endorsing rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy as Minnesota’s Week 1 starter.
“My thing is, when we played, the first three guys that drafted — they’re playing. There’s no if, ands, or buts about it. Now, the 5th and 6th Round, we’ll see. May or may not see the field. Maybe a special teamer. First three rounds back then were played,” Moss replied when asked about Darnold or McCarthy in Week 1.
The Vikings drafted Moss in 1998 from Round 1, and the man rapidly morphed into an icon, creating a generation of fans along the way.
“Now, we’re drafting guys in the 1st Round, and they’re not even seeing the field. To answer your question — I don’t care if he’s not ready. He needs to be out there. Week 1,” Moss continued by endorsing McCarthy.
Last month, VikingsTerritory polled Vikings fans about their QB1 preference, and the result was as astounding as it was lopsided. Over 80% of the team’s faithful desire Darnold out of the gate.
So far this summer, Vikings quarterback operations have trended in favor of Darnold starting in September, and fans evidently hopped on the hype train. Minnesota found McCarthy in the 2024 NFL Draft with the 10th overall pick, and before too long, he will take over as QB1 or at least receive a prolonged audition.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell all but confirmed Darnold as the current QB1 last month. The skipper said at minicamp, “We haven’t had to put out a depth chart or anything like that, but I would say Sam would be the guy I would look to based on the spring he’s had and, really, where he’s at in his career and his quarterback journey, and what he’s been able to do coming in and [hitting] the ground running and taking advantage of the competitive situation.”
O’Connell also said about Darnold in May while chatting with the aforementioned Adams, “Just from a standpoint of his ability to absorb our offense, go out and execute with a lot of guys, when he steps into the huddle, he’s stepping in with guys that have been in this system for two years. And we’re not really slowing down from a standpoint of how we want to kind of install our offense.”
It is unclear which quarterbacks from Moss’ era saw the field in Week 1, as he preached with Adams. Minnesota drafted Daunte Culpepper in 1999, and he sat for a full year before taking over the QB1 job in 2000.
Still, for the current Vikings, McCarthy right away — development be damned — is the Moss declaration.
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.