Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy talks about trading nicknames with wide receiver Justin Jefferson, getting acquainted with Minnesota, pregame meditation, listening to Bob Marley and more. The Vikings drafted McCarthy in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft with the 10th overall pick. He takes over for Kirk Cousins.
Minnesota Vikings training camp has about two weeks in the books, and several items have dribbled out of Eagan.
The franchise hopes to win more than seven games, up from last year’s total, though sportsbooks believe the purple team will only be good for six or seven.
And with preseason just a week away, these are the top four developments from Vikings training camp, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = top development).
The Vikings’ social media team has gotten a workout by posting Nailor highlights; there’s a new one seemingly every day. Before training camp, most of the team’s fans envisioned Brandon Powell as the frontrunner to win the WR3 assignment, but Nailor has shattered that prognostication.
Nailor has wowed onlookers in the past, so more time is needed to determine his sustainability. If he can stay healthy, however, this could become his breakout season.
Brian Flores’ defense entered training camp shorthanded for tragic reasons — and then Mekhi Blackmon and Shaquill Griffin got hurt. Blackmon will miss all of 2024, while Griffin should return before too long.
Still, the secondary has considerable concerns, mainly because the “normal” regular season injuries have yet to begin. That’s why general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has signed four defensive backs in the last two weeks.
In June, cornerback depth felt relatively secure. It’s a different story in July.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah stunned all Vikings fans at the start of camp, extending Christian Darrisaw’s deal one year early. Most expected contract talks to ooze into the 2025 offseason and maybe even hit June like Justin Jefferon’s recent negotiations.
Not this time. Adofo-Mensah locked Darrisaw down through the end of 2029 — probably saving around $10 million via the salary cap in the long run.
Minnesota now has Darrisaw, Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and J.J. McCarthy under contract for the long haul.
Sam Darnold should absolutely have the QB1 job on autopilot, while McCarthy ought to be lagging behind his teammate on the depth chart.
But that’s just not the case.
Earlier this week, O’Connell told reporters about the quarterback depth chart, “As far as that depth chart in that room, I think it’s clear and obvious — like you guys do; you make the commitment to come out every day — you see it’s pretty darn even between Sam and J.J. And in many cases, J.J. getting a couple more [reps] with our ability to add some developmental stuff for the guys down the line.”
This battle should be a Darnold walkover, but McCarthy is holding his own — so much so that he could start right away in September.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.