Vikings among NFL’s Biggest Overreactions at OTAs
Minnesota Vikings organized team activities (OTAs) will conclude this week, giving way to mandatory minicamp, which begins on June 10.
Most activity coming from Vikings OTAs is positive, but one outfit claimed last week that some of the Vikings hype is an overreaction.
From OTAs, Vikings fans have learned of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s extension, safety Josh Metellus’ (temporary) absence, and a general approval stamp on quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s presence at the event.
But not everyone is totally sold on McCarthy. Bleacher Report called his rapid ascension in Minnesota an “overreaction” last week.
J.J. McCarthy Hype Called an OTA Overreaction
The Vikings drafted McCarthy in 2024, and the Michigan alumnus tore his meniscus in a preseason game 3.5 months later. He’s battled back valiantly, replaced by Sam Darnold last year, who led Minnesota to a 14-3 record. Darnold then bolted for the Seattle Seahawks in free agency, and McCarthy is in line to earn the QB1 job this fall.
Yet, BR’s Brad Gagnon isn’t buying the hype, at least not yet.
He wrote on May 30th, “The overreaction: J.J. McCarthy will help the Vikings forget Sam Darnold. Accurate, even on the deep stuff, and seemingly confident. That’s probably the best way to summarize recent showings from Minnesota sophomore quarterback J.J. McCarthy.”
“And while the team made the right call moving on from Darnold in favor of the 2024 first-round pick, he’s essentially a rookie coming off a spoiled maiden pro season. Let’s again treat his offseason thus far like Sanders’, Ward’s and Slough’s. I need to see McCarthy exhibit adaptability in uncomfortable situations when it matters. We’re a long way from there.”
McCarthy wasn’t alone in the publication. Gagnon also isn’t ready to crown Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders a superstar and doesn’t believe that the Tennessee Titans have a real quarterback competition between Cam Ward and Will Levis, among other overreaction examples.
Real Test Is 3 Months Away
The real test for McCarthy is about three months away when his Vikings take on the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Monday Night Football. And he doesn’t even need to be great during the contest; he just needs to show growth, maturation, and development throughout the regular season.
OTAs are largely sketchy for learning hints about the upcoming season or one’s career trajectory. From a fan’s standpoint, they’re closer to a photo opportunity or a back-to-school party.
Of Course It’s “See It to Believe It”
Gagnon’s assertion is worthwhile, but let’s be honest: not even Vikings fans are completely assured that McCarthy will be the real deal. We’re talking about one of the most snakebitten, cynical, and depressed fan bases in the world.
It’s exciting to envision McCarthy playing markedly better than Darnold — in time. However, virtually nobody is 100% sold that McCarthy’s aura and charisma will translate to regular season and postseason success.
Gagnon is very much correct that we must see it to believe it.
The Vikings’ One Big Chance Rests with McCarthy
McCarthy doesn’t have to become a Pro Bowler in his first season as a starter, but he must trend in the right direction.
He’s the one big hope for a Vikings’ Super Bowl anytime soon, a team that hasn’t reached that event in about 50 years. McCarthy has a Top 3 NFL defense at his side, a bevy of proven offensive playmakers, and a quarterback-whispering head coach.
It’s all there for the taking, and McCarthy must mature on the fly at a pace that satisfies reasonable onlookers. Thankfully, he has a glorious situation to aid him in Year No. 1 (or technically Year No. 2).
Janik Eckardt on J.J. McCarthy
PurplePTSD‘s Janik Eckardt recently shed light on McCarthy’s presence on the roster and at OTAs: “McCarthy is widely expected to be the Week 1 starter for the Minnesota Vikings, but he still needs to perform well throughout the offseason and training camp in the summer. McCarthy will be under pressure early in his career because the roster is made for a playoff push with reinforced trenches on both sides of the ball and the same explosive playmakers and outstanding play-callers helping the talented squad reach its ceiling.”
“The last time we saw McCarthy on the field was when he bounced back from a shaky second-quarter performance against the Las Vegas Raiders and dominated in the third with a pair of pretty touchdown passes. The rumor mill suggested he might have been well-positioned to challenge Sam Darnold for the starting gig, but the knee injury ended all those speculations.”
McCarthy will become the first-ever quarterback drafted by the Vikings in the Top 10 to start a game.
Eckardt continued, “Skol Nation is ready for a home-grown passer for the first time since Teddy Bridgewater a decade ago. The last successful one (at least for a while) was Daunte Culpepper, but that’s already two decades in the past. McCarthy is set up in a wonderful environment that includes Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison as his targets, a retooled offensive line, a strong defense, and a coaching staff led by Kevin O’Connell, the Coach of the Year.”
“The Vikings don’t really have an alternative plan for this season if he isn’t ready, as they declined to acquire any experienced veteran like Jameis Winston, Joe Flacco, Kirk Cousins, or Aaron Rodgers. It’s McCarthy or bust, which surely is bold, but the decision-makers clearly buy into their young signal-caller, and the early reports are once again excellent.”
Vikings training camp is about eight weeks away.
Vikings Named a Team of Destiny
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