Sam Darnold will start at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings when the season commences. Rather than hurling youngster J.J. McCarthy into the fire too soon and maybe shattering his confidence, they would rather to progress him gradually and give him the opportunity to show that he is ready.
However, Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated makes a “bold prediction” for the 2024 season that calls for a sharp increase.
Orr believes that the Vikings will acquire Darnold in November at the trade deadline, making McCarthy the starting quarterback.
“J.J. McCarthy’s era in Minnesota will commence on June 20th when the 2018 No. 3 pick of the Jets will have a brief tenure as the Minnesota Vikings’ starter before he gets traded before the deadline of November 5th to a contender that has an injured starter,” Orr wrote on June 20.
McCarthy was selected by the Vikings with the 10th overall choice in the draft after they traded up with the Jets.
Throughout the pre-draft process, McCarthy came under intense scrutiny for his potential and lack of exposure as a passer.
Jim Harbaugh, the former head coach of his college, has praised him for being able to play the position better than any of his draft-eligible teammates. McCarthy’s evaluations have shown him to be positively impacted by playing for Harbaugh.
McCarthy’s promotion and the trade of Darnold may be signs of things to come for the Vikings.
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