Why All the Vikings Quarterback Theories?
Remember when Minnesota Vikings fans hated spending big money on stopgap options? There was a time when the fanbase was all in on the idea that drafting a rookie and having them become the face of the franchise made sense. Somehow, that happened, and the other noise has never been louder.
Why All the Vikings Quarterback Theories?
Last season, the expectation was that Sam Darnold wouldn’t last more than a few games as the starting signal caller. He was brought in as a bridge quarterback and ultimately would give way to first-round pick J.J. McCarthy. Of course, that went out the window after a season-ending knee injury for the Michigan product.
Darnold thrived under Kevin O’Connell, and the weapons around him offered him the opportunity to put up the best season of his career. That also allowed the former first-round pick to get paid this offseason. It should represent the reality that McCarthy will find himself in the same situation.
Despite the Vikings spending handsomely this offseason to supplement all areas of the roster, the quarterback position remains a talking point. Minnesota has seemed to distance itself from Aaron Rodgers, but the media wanted to push the future Hall of Famer into a starting role for O’Connell.
That acquisition would have never made sense unless the Vikings brass felt like O’Connell would give them a near-surefire path to the Super Bowl. Even after moving on from that sort of proposition, the newest rumor again revolves around Justin Herbert.
The Los Angeles Chargers quarterback was recently paid, but it continues to become a narrative of fitting every possible upgrade into a roster ready to win. It just doesn’t make sense when that roster already has J.J. McCarthy.
It may take some time for McCarthy to acclimate to the next level. No one cares if the Vikings win 14 games in 2025. If they rip off enough wins to make the playoffs and then run to the Super Bowl, the desired outcome is the exact same. If O’Connell felt confident enough in the ability to develop McCarthy when drafting him, then he feels confident enough in the ability to win at a high level with him in charge.
It’s wild that every signal caller with a pulse and track record continues to be tied to the Vikings. That’s probably less about McCarthy and more about the offensive weapons and continued disbelief in what the organization has going for them.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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