The Minnesota Vikings imagine in J.J. McCarthy. Regardless of assembly with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers through the offseason, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell mentioned Monday that he feels “excellent” about McCarthy’s potential shifting ahead.
The Vikings’ curiosity in Rodgers may have been seen as an indictment of McCarthy, however that is not the case. O’Connell instructed ESPN “two issues will be true on the identical time,” when discussing the problem Monday.
Commercial
What did he imply by that? O’Connell made the case that the crew can each imagine in McCarthy and have a dialogue with probably the greatest quarterbacks of all-time. The latter does not invalidate the previous.
“Aaron Rodgers is a four-time NFL MVP and someone who, not simply myself, however we have all had a lot respect for competing towards him. And he occurred to be at a cut-off date in his profession the place he was free to have some actual dialogue about what his future could appear like. And we occurred to be a kind of groups that he reached out to. And I’ve had a private relationship with him going again since my enjoying days.
“… However I do really feel very strongly about the place [McCarthy is] at proper now. And primarily based upon the knowledge we now have from the analysis course of, the time we had with him, I really feel excellent about projecting a very constructive 12 months for J.J. And now we have to go to work and do it.”
O’Connell and Rodgers developed a relationship through the coach’s enjoying days and have remained pleasant since then. Rodgers apparently reached out to the Vikings about his NFL future, and O’Connell felt it was good to speak with the previous All-Professional quarterback.
The Vikings have apparently moved on since then, although the crew is being a bit of cagey about whether or not McCarthy would be the starter subsequent season. Vikings basic supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah mentioned Wednesday he needs McCarthy to win the job and views the quarterback as a starter within the NFL, however Adofo-Mensah additionally burdened the significance of getting a powerful quarterback room.
O’Connell refused to call McCarthy because the crew’s starter Monday, and indicated he must compete for the job. McCarthy has taken that messaging in stride all offseason, saying he is “making an attempt to earn” the function.
Commercial
Whereas the Vikings may revisit the Rodgers dialog down the highway, many count on the crew to herald some kind of veteran quarterback forward of the 2025 NFL season. Having an skilled sign caller on the depth chart would offer some competitors for McCarthy and provides the crew a stronger, extra knowledgable quarterback room.
McCarthy is unproven on the NFL stage, however he was the No. 10 total decide within the 2024 NFL Draft, and obtained sturdy evaluations in offseason minicamps earlier than present process knee surgical procedure in August.
The Vikings will nearly definitely herald one other quarterback who can push McCarthy, but it surely does not appears like will probably be somebody with Rodgers’ pedigree.
