Only One Vikings Weakness Can Undo Everything
On the eve of the 2025 NFL season, you will struggle to find a team that receives a more varied opinion than the Minnesota Vikings. Expectations vary; these guys can make a run to the NFL championship game or finish at the bottom of the division.
Only one problem can undo everything for the Vikings in 2025, and it’s the weakness analysts keep circling as the biggest obstacle to sustained success.
All opinions are out there for the 2025 Vikings. The strength of the NFC North division is one reason, but the biggest thing holding some people back from backing the Vikings is the team’s perceived weakness: experience, or lack of it, at the quarterback position.
J.J. McCarthy’s Inexperience Is the Main “Weakness” to Monitor
The most important position in football is the quarterback. As the offense’s leader, they have more responsibility than any other player. Receiving and relaying the play all and making crucial decisions on almost every play, a team’s ability to make progress down the field is highly dependent on the quarterback’s all-around performance.
Not just his ability to throw, but also how he can read the defense and make adjustments on the fly to help his team. That’s what the best QBs can do, and then they back it up with their arm.
JJ McCarthy had a successful college career that culminated in a national championship. However, some (erroneously) give all of the credit to the Michigan rushing attack. McCarthy played his part in the Wolverines’ success, with big plays in big moments. What can’t be disputed is that McCarthy doesn’t have a ton of on-field experience.
After missing his rookie season due to a knee injury that occurred in a preseason game last year, over two preseasons with the Vikings, McCarthy has only been asked to drop back for a passing play 27 times. That’s the sum of his experience in the pro ranks. It might surprise some that McCarthy wasn’t tasked to do more during the preseason.
Kevin O’Connell abides by the idea that you don’t risk starters in the preseason. When he first came to Minnesota in 2022, he didn’t play starters as often as he has this year. He put those who were healthy in for the opening drive of the first preseason game, and that was it.
McCarthy’s four completions from seven passing attempts for 30 yards against the Houston Texans were the extent of his preseason football. Right now, McCarthy lands way down at the bottom of any QB Rankings, and the only way that is going to change is by getting on the field and proving himself.
McCarthy Needs Playing Time
It takes time and reps for most players to reach their potential. Occasionally, mercurial talents like Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson burst straight onto the scene. That is far from the norm, though, and when you have someone who did play a huge amount of college football as well, patience should be exercised. Something Pro Football Focus was keen to point out when naming McCarthy’s weakness.
Biggest Weakness: Experience
McCarthy has handled 27 NFL preseason dropbacks after logging just 831 dropbacks in his college career. No matter how much you may have liked him as a prospect in 2024, his lack of experience might be an issue early in his career. Contrasting that to Michael Penix Jr., who took 614 dropbacks in his senior season alone, highlights the potential learning curve McCarthy has in front of him.
McCarthy has landed in a great spot in Minnesota. With a QB-friendly head coach with a proven track record of getting the most out of the guys he works with. Add to that what looks like the best offensive line the Vikings have had in years, a gluttony of playmakers on the offensive side of the ball, and a defense that was too five last year and has been strengthened. The path to success is laid out in front of McCarthy.
Although last year’s injury wasn’t ideal, it did give him the chance to sit back and learn the system. That should be an advantage. I subscribe to the notion that if McCarthy performs well this season, the Vikings will be good. He doesn’t need to be Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson. He just needs to make more good decisions than he does bad ones and keep learning as the season progresses.
The hopes of the Vikings are weighted firmly on McCarthy’s shoulders. What can he deliver in Year 1? We are about to find out.
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