Another Bold Endorsement Just Dropped for the Vikings
It’s a summer of optimism for the Minnesota Vikings — and CBS Sports agrees.
Another respected writer just hopped on the Vikings bandwagon with a bold endorsement ahead of training camp. Minnesota’s offseason hype train is infectious.
Minnesota used the 2025 offseason to extend the contracts of leaders Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell, rebuild the offensive and defensive trenches, and promote 22-year-old quarterback J.J. McCarthy as the uncontested QB1.
And it’s all smiles from CBS Sports.
McCarthy Is the Reason for Vikings Optimism
The summer of 2025 is all about J.J. McCarthy.
Vikings Have the “Perfect QB,” Says CBS Sports
Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports detailed “one reason to be excited” about each NFL team last week, and for Minnesota, he called McCarthy “the perfect quarterback.”
“Perfect roster to usher in young QB. A key storyline throughout next season will be the development of Vikings second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy. He was sidelined due to a meniscus injury last season, which helped pave the way for Sam Darnold to produce in the role,” Sullivan opined.
“As McCarthy now takes the keys to the offense, there may be some level of concern/wonder about how he will fare. Well, the former Michigan quarterback does have the benefit of having the best collection of talent around him in the league.”
McCarthy missed all of his maiden voyage season because of the meniscus tear.
Sullivan added, “Minnesota spent the offseason bolstering the interior of the offensive line, further providing McCarthy with protection. Meanwhile, his skill position group is headlined by Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and Aaron Jones.”
“That’s not mentioning an offensive guru, head coach Kevin O’Connell, in his ear. McCarthy is set up to thrive as he ascends to QB1.”
A Ringing Endorsement
In the realm of endorsements, Sullivan’s is about as fancy as it gets.
Ordinarily, in the past, Vikings fans would be a little bit skittish about rookie quarterbacks (or, in this case, a second-year passer), hoping the team made the right pick. The franchise has encountered notable swings and misses when drafting signal-callers.
But this time feels different, mainly because head coach Kevin O’Connell, known as a quarterback guru, personally locked in the selection.
Is the Vikings’ Long Search … Over?
Let’s face it: the Vikings have not employed a successful long-term or semi-long-term quarterback whom they drafted in 25 years. The last example? Daunte Culpepper, a big, beefy passer from the 2000s. Culpepper led Minnesota admirably for 5.5 seasons before succumbing to a vicious knee injury.
Since, the Vikings have swung and missed on picks like Tarvaris Jackson, Christian Ponder, Teddy Bridgewater, Kellen Mond, and Jaren Hall.
The team is long overdue to nail a quarterback draft selection. McCarthy, for this reason, might be “the guy.”
Also a “Perfect” Setup for McCarthy
Listen — McCarthy has the NFL’s second-best defense from last year, playmakers galore in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, Tai Felton, and Jalen Nailor, and O’Connell at his side.
The team could have scripted this setup better in a fiction novel.
If McCarthy doesn’t take off in the Twin Cities, the franchise may, indeed, be utterly cursed.
What about GB, CHI?
Sullivan said about the Green Bay Packers’ main reason for optimism: “For the second year in a row, Jordan Love has shown us his ability to come alive down the stretch. I think that’s a window into the peak of his powers, which Green Bay should hope comes together throughout a full season. Over the last two seasons, Love has gone 11-5 with 28 touchdowns and just two interceptions between Weeks 11 and 18.”
“However, Love’s hot streak came to a screeching halt with a three-interception performance in a one-and-done showing against the Eagles. While that definitely leaves a sour taste, Love is flashing elite potential at times. And with first-round receiver Matthew Golden now slotted in as another weapon, it’s possible we see more of that version of the Green Bay QB.”
And on the Bears: “Arguably, the biggest addition throughout this entire offseason was the Chicago Bears landing Ben Johnson as head coach. In just his first offseason at the helm, you can already see his imprint on the roster with Chicago bolstering its offensive line and adding an array of weapons for second-year quarterback Caleb Williams.”
“Johnson has shown us during his days as the Lions’ offensive coordinator that he’s a tremendous play caller, and that is widely expected to translate to being a head coach. Chicago’s days in the dumps may be a thing of the past.”
The Vikings play the Bears to start the season in 46 days.
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