PFF Announces New Year’s Resolution for Vikings
VikingsTerritory published its list of New Year’s Resolutions for the Minnesota Vikings slightly over a week ago, and now Pro Football Focus has its own suggestion: decide whether quarterback J.J. McCarthy is the right quarterback building block for the future.
Minnesota needs a clear-cut starter at quarterback, plus a sturdier contingency plan if injuries or inconsistency persist.
McCarthy scripted a wild first season as a starter in 2025, including dreadful overall performance in his first six starts, weirdly clutch moments in those very games, about four injuries, and a hot streak from starts seven through 10. Now, Minnesota must choose if that early resume is enough to get behind, says PFF.
McCarthy’s Development Is a New Year’s Resolution for Vikings
A New Year’s Resolution for the Vikings lands at the quarterback’s doorstep.
PFF on NYE for MIN: Make the Call on McCarthy
Minnesota’s 2026 mission statement is pretty damn clear, according to PFF’s Zach Tantillo — find and deliver a long-term verdict on McCarthy.
He wrote this week, “Determine whether J.J. McCarthy is the long-term answer. J.J. McCarthy’s first two NFL seasons have been disrupted by injuries and inconsistency. He missed his rookie year with a meniscus tear and then lost time in 2025 due to a high ankle sprain, a concussion and a hairline fracture in his throwing hand, limiting his ability to find sustained rhythm.”
“When healthy, McCarthy has flashed upside. He owns the second-highest big-time throw rate in the NFL, trailing only Matthew Stafford, but also carries the league’s third-highest turnover-worthy play rate. Minnesota’s priority this offseason is determining whether that high-variance profile can be refined into a more stable, long-term solution at quarterback or if further investment at the position is required.”
While Tantillo’s assertion is correct, it’s about as obvious as it gets within the confines of Vikings football right now. It all starts at quarterback, and that man is currently McCarthy.
Probably a Green Light with Contingency Plan
The Vikings are heavily invested in McCarthy; the job security and reputations of general manager and head coach Kevin O’Connell depend on his maturation and development.
Still, no one quite expected McCarthy to miss 70% of all Vikings games since being drafted in April of 2024. That nuisance introduces a new factor: Can Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell trust a guy with such a recent and muddy injury history?
With jobs on the line, probably not.
Therefore, while the Vikings can remain committed to McCarthy, they must construct a strong contingency plan, unlike last offseason when they waited until the draft to trade for Sam Howell, later realized he stunk, traded him away, and signed Carson Wentz late in the summer.
This time, Minnesota may need a top-tier alternative like trading for Mac Jones or signing Malik Willis from free agency, to name a couple of popular options.
Growing Pains or Bust in the Making?
There are two schools of thought from fans about McCarthy at the moment:
1 — Give the guy time because 2025 was his first year as a starter. He showed enough moxie and big-time throws in 10 starts to provide hope for the future. He wasn’t out-of-the-box ready, but the guy somehow displayed a clutch gene, even if games where he struggled profusely. Patience is key.
2 — The guy has all the makings of a textbook bust. Per EPA+CPOE in 2025, he ranked as the NFL’s single-worst passer, and to dress it up any other way is just avoiding the inevitable: the guy probably stinks. Too, the injury history is utterly alarming. Injuries derail most draft busts, and McCarthy has that counting against him, too. Poor performance and persistent injuries are a ruthless forecast for the future.
Resolutions for Other NFC North Squads
For context, Tantillo also outlined resolutions for the Vikings’ rivals.
He noted on the Green Bay Packers: “Get a full season of ‘Toyotathon’ Jordan Love. At this point, the Jordan Love ‘Toyotathon’ meme has become shorthand for his stretch of elite play from mid-November through January. Since Week 12, Love has earned an 81.9 PFF passing grade and an 84.9 PFF overall grade, both ranking fifth among quarterbacks, while his 6.6% big-time throw rate ranks seventh at the position.”
“Love has shown he can play at a Super Bowl–caliber level, and for Green Bay, the priority moving forward is getting that version of him for a full season so the offense can reach its ceiling.”
And for the division-winning Bears: “Find pass-rush help this offseason. The partnership between Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams has the Bears trending toward legitimate playoff contention, but a lack of consistent pass rush threatens to cap that upside.”
“Chicago’s defensive line ranks near the bottom of the NFL in both total pressures and pressure rate and sits 25th in sacks, making edge and interior pass-rush reinforcements a clear offseason priority.”
NFL free agency is 60 days away.
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