Justin Jefferson Delivers His Verdict on the Vikings’ QB Situation
J.J. McCarthy is Justin Jefferson’s guy — until he’s not. That’s the word from Jefferson this week, who made the rounds at the Super Bowl’s radio row. Jefferson is committed to McCarthy’s development. Now, it’s just a matter of whether Minnesota’s brass agrees.
Jefferson’s comments support McCarthy’s trajectory, yet they also underline why the Vikings would be smart to insulate the room with experience.
Jefferson has experienced unusually unstable quarterback turnover since Kirk Cousins left town, but if McCarthy matures into a long-term solution, life is just better for everybody.
Jefferson Backs McCarthy, Leaves Room for Depth
McCarthy keeps the Jefferson seal of approval.
Jefferson on McCarthy: JJ Is My QB
Kay Adams chatted with Jefferson this week, and naturally, she asked about the Vikings’ quarterback mystery.
Jefferson replied, “That’s not my decision. I don’t care who’s throwing me that ball. That’s not my main priority. That person that’s throwing that ball needs to throw that ball, and lead us to into that big dance at the end of the season. As of right now, JJ is my QB. For me, it’s to get him to where we need to go; it starts off right now in the offseason and getting better now.”
That’s a pretty explicit endorsement of McCarthy, though some questioned his choice of the words “as of right now.” Jefferson may have left himself some wiggle room if Minnesota takes a bigger swing at QB1 from free agency or via trade.
Jefferson gassed up McCarthy a bit more: “If you look at the film, he’s done very good things. Obviously, it wasn’t the most spectacular thing, those are things he understands that there are some things to work on. JJ is a really good QB.”
Three Straight Offseasons of Similar Responses from Jefferson
Sadly, Jefferson has been asked this question — What do you think of your quarterback, or who will be your quarterback? — since the 2024 offseason. In 2024, reporters asked Jefferson if Kirk Cousins would return. He usually replied that the quarterback decision isn’t his job and that he would cook with anybody.
Last offseason, the same crowd needled Jefferson for details about Sam Darnold’s free agency. He replied with the same retort — Not my job. I just catch the football.
And here we are in 2026: “What are your thoughts on McCarthy?”
Soon, Minnesota must land on a long-term QB1 and capitalize on Jefferson’s physical prime. He’ll turn 27 this June.
Getting 1,000 Yards Like Houdini
Adams also asked Jefferson how he hit his six-season-long 1,000-yard receiving mark in 2025 despite poor quarterback performance.
He said, “Honestly, I don’t know. I really don’t. There were some games I only had one or two catches — only 11 yards, 20 yards.”
That is not a question a team should want the best wide receiver in football to answer, even if Jefferson took the high road. Between McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer, the Vikings produced the NFL’s fifth-worst quarterback efficiency, and it is indeed a miracle that Jefferson hit the coveted 1,000-yard mark.
Minnesota should construct a quarterback plan in the coming weeks and months that has Jefferson targeting 2,000 yards, not 1,000.
A Verdict Soon on McCarthy
At the Vikings’ year-end press conference in January, former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell said the same thing: the priority this offseason is to build a deep-deep quarterback room, unlike last year when the duo did nothing in free agency and waited until the draft to acquire Sam Howell, who lasted four months in Minneapolis.
SI.com‘s Jonathan Harrison noted on the Vikings’ offseason quarterback strategy this week, “Now, with the organization publicly saying they’re looking to bring in a veteran to compete with him, McCarthy is looking at a precarious future as the team’s starting quarterback. When asked whether he’s going to be vocal about who he wants as quarterback, Jefferson noted that’s not his job.”
“Since the end of the season, there has been plenty of speculation about who the Vikings could target as a QB addition this offseason. That speculation has included links to Jefferson’s college QB, Joe Burrow, among other top possibilities. When asked about Burrow, Jefferson spoke glowingly, but understood that his comments carried weight and refused to take the focus away from who his current quarterback is.”
Another quarterback is coming to Minnesota. He just is. If that’s via trade, a deal could be announced today. If it’s free agency — Malik Willis, for example — that process is about one month away. Vikings fans and Jefferson personally don’t really have to wait long to learn the identity of McCarthy’s challenger or insurance policy.
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