Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) throws a cross throughout second-quarter preseason motion in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis on Aug. 10, 2024. McCarthy displayed poise and polished mechanics throughout his early NFL reps whereas giving Vikings followers an encouraging glimpse of the rookie quarterback’s long-term potential in Kevin O’Connell’s offense. Necessary Credit score: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports activities.
In a while Sunday, VikingsTerritory will publish “The Case for Kyler Murray” because the Minnesota Vikings’ QB1 in 2026. That is the sister version, uplifting why J.J. McCarthy makes essentially the most sense.
Minnesota’s authentic quarterback plan nonetheless has life.
The argument will not be as sturdy as Murray’s declare to the throne, however some nonetheless insist that McCarthy might be “that guy.”
McCarthy’s Greatest Stretch Provides a First rate Argument
The “why” for McCarthy as Minnesota’s QB1.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy watches from the sideline throughout preseason motion in opposition to the Houston Texans on Aug. 9, 2025, at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. McCarthy continued adjusting to the tempo of the NFL whereas observing Minnesota’s offense throughout his first prolonged preseason because the group’s younger quarterback centerpiece. Necessary Credit score: Brad Rempel-Imagn Photographs
Too Quickly to Mail It In
The Vikings determined McCarthy was the best choice for his or her franchise simply over two years in the past. In April 2024, he was their golden boy. Per the everyday timeline of quarterback improvement, now could be too quickly to stop on the man. Persistence is a advantage. Ask the previous employers of Sam Darnold or Baker Mayfield if they’d’ve carried out issues in a different way.
It’s one factor to stop on a franchise quarterback at age 25, 26, or 27. However 23? That’s wildly untimely. The Vikings would principally be begging and welcoming a special quarterback guru to “fix McCarthy” in the event that they kicked him to the curb.
The Manufacturing in December 2025
McCarthy tangibly obtained higher down the stretch of 2025; there’s no denying it. The one caveat is that he confronted weaker defenses in December and January.
There are the numbers:
J.J. McCarthy,EPA/Play Rating in 2025:
Week 1-13: thirty fifth of 35Week 14: 18: fifth of 34
Within the season’s first 13 weeks, McCarthy was the NFL’s single-worst quarterback. From Week 14 on, he grew to become the fifth-best passer on the earth by the numbers. Ought to his teaching employees actually ignore that?
Youth
McCarthy is 23. Followers ought to’ve anticipated roadbumps for the younger signal-caller — and roadbumps they obtained it.
However let’s face it: Kevin O’Connell as soon as mentioned that organizations fail younger quarterbacks earlier than younger quarterbacks fail organizations. Leaving a third-year participant for useless at age 23 would fall sufferer to the very warning O’Connell issued.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy discusses his adjustment to the NFL throughout a media look following his arrival in Minnesota after the 2024 NFL Draft. McCarthy talked about Justin Jefferson, pregame meditation, music preferences, and life with the Vikings because the franchise ready him to succeed Kirk Cousins as beginning quarterback. Necessary Credit score: YouTube
McCarthy has greater than sufficient time to enhance his mechanics and change into a franchise quarterback. He. Is. 23.
The Locker Room Half Is Down
Vikings proper deal with Brian O’Neill not too long ago mentioned about McCarthy, “Even through some of the low points, I mean, we were 4-8 at one point last year. We rattled off five straight. Like, guys believe in him, and guys wanted us to figure it out and be better as an offense. You hear the term ‘lose the locker room.’ He had the locker room more than anybody I’d seen ever.”
“You want to root for him. You want to do well, and you want him to keep taking those next steps. If I was judged after my first 10 games in the NFL, I’m not playing right now. There’s a part of it where he’s still so fresh, and he’s only going to continue to get better,” continued O’Neill. “The whole attitude from us was, ‘How do we go there as an offense together?’”
O’Neill wouldn’t make that up. This implies that McCarthy has the “leader of Men” facet down.
The 4th Quarter Gene
A few of McCarthy’s brightest moments in 2025 occurred when the sport was on the road. Certainly, he would battle at occasions till the 4th quarter, which was not very best, however throughout contests when nothing would go proper, the teen would discover one other stage and lead his workforce when it mattered essentially the most.
If he wholly stunk, the clutch moments most likely wouldn’t present up.
It’s a candy start line to make use of the man who does the laborious half first. That’s — if the Vikings can work out learn how to extract consistency from McCarthy in quarters 1, 2, and three, he already has the backbone for the 4th quarter.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy speaks with a referee earlier than a divisional matchup in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers on Jan. 4, 2026, at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. McCarthy entered the regular-season finale main Minnesota in a important NFC North contest because the Vikings continued battling for playoff positioning late within the yr. Necessary Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Photographs
The perfect proof for this was Week 1 on the Chicago Bears. McCarthy regarded like a uncooked rookie till the 4th quarter and later turned on the gasoline. Minnesota received the competition, and McCarthy received NFC Offensive Participant of the Week for his troubles.
Sticking to the Plan
Generally, groups find yourself wanting foolish for quitting on a quarterback too early. The New York Jets appear like clowns for drafting the aforementioned Darnold and never empowering him to succeed, particularly after Darnold received a Tremendous Bowl seven years later.
The Cleveland Browns are in quarterback hell as a result of they gave up on Mayfield.
It might be just a little fear-based, however there’s a case for sticking with McCarthy so the Vikings don’t miss out on an finally good factor. If the quarterback-whispering head coach can’t whisper to his hand-picked man, is he actually a quarterback whisperer?
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
