J.J. McCarthy Smacks Down Weird Criticism
J.J. McCarthy will lead the Minnesota Vikings as QB1 in 2025 and beyond.
Reporters asked J.J. McCarthy on Thursday about one of his physical traits, and he didn’t shy away from an answer.
Barring injury — again — that is basically undebatable. Some, though, still question the man’s arm strength, a somewhat strange criticism, given that his college tape revealed no arm strength woes.
But the concern is out there, so McCarthy addressed it with reporters on Thursday.
J.J. McCarthy Addresses Arm Strength
SKOR North‘s Judd Zulgad asked McCarthy this week, “There were scouting reports from credible sources that you didn’t have arm strength or it was okay. Do you know where that started? Or how surprised were you? Because in watching you for five practices, there might be some things I see, but it ain’t arm strength.”
McCarthy replied, “That’s a great question, Judd. I would say, a lot of it just comes with the stigma of playing at Michigan and not throwing the ball a lot. At the same time, it could be my frame. They don’t see a 6’5″, 240 guy, so how can he throw it 61 miles an hour at the combine and all that? But at the end of the day, it’s gonna show up.”
“And the people that know, know. I think it’s just the situations I’ve been in and maybe not passing the eye test for some people.”
A Run-Happy Offense at Michigan
McCarthy led a run-first offense at Michigan — all the way to a National Championship — meaning he was never asked to rear back and throw the ball like a fiend.
Some college quarterbacks do field those assignments. Therefore, evidently to explain pedestrian volume statistics at the quarterback position, a handful of pundits decided his arm must be suspect.
It’s the only way to explain the take. Again, his college film has no warts that show a noodle arm.
People hear “Michigan” and think “run-happy,” and a narrative gains legs about the quarterback’s arm strength.
You’re Gonna Find Out about His Arm Strength in a Hurry
Thankfully for Vikings fans’ sake and even McCarthy’s critics, a verdict will be gleaned soon. The Vikings emphatically do not showcase a run-first offense, and in fact, head coach Kevin O’Connell is guilty of the opposite. Minnesota passes more than it throws, sometimes to a fault.
McCarthy won’t be able to get away with leaning on a run game-only in O’Connell’s scheme. As early as the middle of the 2025 season, onlookers will know all about McCarthy’s arm.
Justin Jefferson on McCarthy
Vikings wideout and best player, Justin Jefferson, also opined on his quarterback’s arm.
He told the media, “He has a very strong arm. The velocity of the ball and the spin on the ball, he has a tight spin. It definitely comes to you very quick, quicker than what you expect. His accuracy and his ability to put it in those tight windows, that’s something that we’re really gonna need during the season.”
If Jefferson is good with it, it may be time to put the narrative to bed.
The Original Scouting Report
Many draft scouts questioned McCarthy’s arm strength leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft. Here’s an example.
Bleacher Report‘s Derrik Klassen on McCarthy early in 2024: “J.J. McCarthy is a point-and-shoot thrower over the middle with just enough creativity and athleticism to be interesting. Michigan’s offense did not put a lot on McCarthy’s shoulders. A good chunk of the offense utilized play action to open up the middle of the field or motion to get man/zone indicators that McCarthy could use to throw the quick game. McCarthy falls short in a lot of other ways from a physical perspective.”
“At 202 pounds, McCarthy is terribly light for the position, which is especially concerning for someone who isn’t a special athlete. McCarthy’s arm is also mildly concerning. He has the velocity to fit those throws moving over the middle, but that’s it. McCarthy is a one-speed thrower who struggles to layer throws in, particularly down the field and outside the numbers.”
McCarthy’s weight is now closer to 220.
Klassen continued, “That’s going to severely limit the design of any offense with him at the helm. McCarthy also needs more work as a processor. He did fairly well with the pre-snap indicators Michigan’s offense gave him, but when asked to progress and throw later in the down, McCarthy is very inconsistent both in terms of decision-making and accuracy. McCarthy fits best in a Shanahan-style system that simplifies things pre-snap and leans into throws over the middle of the field with the help of play action.”
“He has the requisite arm talent and pocket toughness to function in that system. Even still, McCarthy will take time to develop his ability to progress from the pocket and, hopefully, add weight and strength.”
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein said McCarthy’s “modest arm strength might be magnified by windup in his delivery,” before the draft last offseason.
Overall, this one is easy. McCarthy can state his case on the field in 87 days when the regular season gets underway. It won’t matter after a few games what draft critics thought about his arm strength — unless they got it right, which feels unlikely.
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