Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy fires a cross throughout first-quarter motion in opposition to the Houston Texans at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. The younger signal-caller took the sector on Aug. 9, 2025, in Minneapolis and confirmed confidence working Minnesota’s offense because the Vikings evaluated personnel, timing, and execution through the opening phases of the preseason schedule. Obligatory Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Pictures
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy has a quarterback competitors ready in August, pitted in opposition to Kyler Murray at coaching camp, however in keeping with CBS Sports activities, that received’t actually matter as a result of he’s destined to finish up as a draft “bust.”
Tyler Sullivan sized up eight gamers flirting with the dreaded label final week, and McCarthy obtained the nod.
Vikings QB Competitors Now Carries a Sharper Edge
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy celebrates in the long run zone after reaching the purpose line throughout a highway sport in opposition to the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. The scoring second occurred on Dec. 21, 2025, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, as McCarthy offered a spark for Minnesota whereas teammates gathered to have a good time the landing. Obligatory Credit score: Yannick Peterhans-Imagn Pictures
CBS Sports activities: McCarthy Will Bust
On his checklist, which included Michael Penix Jr., Marvin Harrison Jr., and others, McCarthy couldn’t escape the scary bust label.
Sullivan defined, “The decision to go with McCarthy over Sam Darnold — who won 14 games for the club in 2024 — blew up in the Vikings’ face. They missed the playoffs with McCarthy ranking as arguably the worst starter in the NFL, while Darnold went on to win a Super Bowl with the Seahawks.”
“After McCarthy ranked last among qualified quarterbacks in completion percentage, TD-INT ratio and passer rating, Minnesota brought in veteran Kyler Murray this offseason to compete for the job. Why he will bust: The Vikings brought in legitimate competition in Murray this offseason, and the veteran appears to have the inside track to winning the job.”
McCarthy started the 2025 marketing campaign — his first as a starter — with wild inconsistency and a barrage of accidents, earlier than turning into the NFL’s sixth-best quarterback per EPA+CPE from Weeks 14 to 18.
“With Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the general manager who selected McCarthy, fired earlier this offseason, arguably McCarthy’s biggest supporter is no longer in the building. Our prediction: Will bust,” Sullivan concluded.
Vikings Followers’ Worst Nightmare
When the Vikings launched into the 2023 season, most knew that Kirk Cousins, now a member of the Las Vegas Raiders, was on borrowed time and wouldn’t stay with the franchise for much longer. That forecast turned out to be true, particularly after Cousins tore his Achilles in October 2023. So, all eyes shifted to the longer term at quarterback for Minnesota, eyeing a deep 2024 rookie quarterback class.
The one factor that might not occur was a swing and a miss, as Minnesota has not nailed down the QB1 spot for the long run with an organically drafted signal-caller since Daunte Culpepper — 25 years in the past. Followers debated whether or not Minnesota ought to commerce up for Drake Maye that draft, roll with the aforementioned Penix Jr., or capitalize on McCarthy’s post-NCAA Championship aptitude.
The Vikings selected McCarthy with the tenth total decide in April 2024, ushering in a brand new period. 4 months later, he tore his meniscus, ending his rookie season and setting a foreboding tone for his future.
And right here we’re, 26 months later, with shops like CBS Sports activities calling him a bust. What Vikings followers dreaded essentially the most may very well be unfolding in actual time.
2026 as a Pivotal Yr
In fact, Sullivan’s forecast is merely a prediction. McCarthy might redefine his profession with the snap of two fingers, both by defeating Murray this summer season in Minnesota’s much-anticipated quarterback battle. He might additionally assume the QB1 job if Murray will get injured through the common season, which certainly occurs considerably often to Murray.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy speaks with reporters through the staff’s necessary minicamp as preparations continued for the 2025 season. The previous first-round draft decide addressed the media on June 12, 2025, after spending his rookie 12 months recovering from a preseason meniscus harm that saved him off the sector. Obligatory Credit score: YouTube
The 2026 season is an all-telling slate of 17 video games to find out McCarthy’s future in Minnesota. If Murray seizes the QB1 job for the lengthy haul, there received’t be many development alternatives for McCarthy as a Viking in the long term. Suppose McCarthy takes over and balls out. He can simply maintain the highest job in Minnesota, whereas Murray units sail on a journeyman’s path across the league.
By February 2027, Vikings devoted will know if McCarthy is “the guy” or a commerce asset.
Bust Label Too Early after Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield Examples
One may suppose that the NFL-themed websites would’ve discovered its lesson by now. From 2019 by 2023, Sam Darnold was emphatically thought-about a bust. In 2022, after the Carolina Panthers expelled Baker Mayfield, his profession had the same trajectory.
Heading into 2026, each are thought-about Prime 15 quarterbacks within the NFL, an announcement that will’ve felt laughable in the summertime of 2023, for instance.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy goes by pregame preparations earlier than taking the sector at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. The younger quarterback practiced on Dec. 7, 2025, in Minneapolis as Minnesota ready for one more late-season contest and continued its push towards the postseason through the closing stretch of the common season. Obligatory Credit score: Brad Rempel-Imagn Pictures
McCarthy might flame out of Minnesota, however people received’t know his true “bust” consequence till 2029 or so. Until he’s a Josh Rosen-style bust, a staff or two shall be prepared to present McCarthy extra possibilities if he bounces out of Minnesota.
The previous Michigan Wolverine additionally has youth on his aspect. He turned 23 in January, and it’s subsequent to not possible to know a quarterback’s full expertise at that younger age. Age-27 McCarthy may very well be a vastly totally different participant than age-22 McCarthy.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
