Speculation linking Aaron Rodgers with the Minnesota Vikings seemed pretty one-sided. Telling statements from some influential figures within the organization should put the matter to rest once and for all.
The Vikings took J.J. McCarthy at No. 10 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. They believed that the national college football championship winner at Michigan had the tools to become a franchise-caliber presence under center. Now, he'll get the chance to repay this faith after an injury ended his rookie campaign before it began.
The signs are positive regarding McCarthy's recovery. Rodgers would probably jump at the chance to follow the Brett Favre path and play with the elite-level offensive playmakers in Minnesota, but it wasn't to be. They placed a lot of confidence in the young signal-caller, who'll need to hit the ground running in the ultra-competitive NFC North.
Kevin O'Connell's emphatic statement outlines Vikings' confidence in J.J. McCarthy
Kevin O'Connell's recent comments proved beyond all doubt how much confidence he (and the locker room) has in McCarthy. The head coach projected big things for the ex-Wolverine, and it's clear the organization is going to do everything possible in pursuit of making his time under center go smoothly.
"I feel very good about projecting a really positive year for J.J., and now we’ve got to go to work and do it. Talking about it in March and April doesn’t do a whole lot. We wanted to make sure J.J. feels he's in a position to hit the ground running this spring, have a great spring and put himself in position to have a great 2025. His style seems to resonate with the guys. All of those things lead you to believe you can project really positive things. It’s a responsibility for me as the play caller to make sure I’m building that rapport (with him), in addition to demanding a standard at the position from an early time here that I think he’s going to meet and challenge himself to meet on a daily basis."
Kevin O'Connell via The Athletic
This is the correct call. Rodgers played fairly well last season, but he's not a long-term option. There is also plenty of baggage attached, which makes betting on McCarthy's upside a no-brainer in the circumstances.
The Vikings still need to find a veteran backup quarterback in the event McCarthy gets hurt. It's unlikely they'll draft one, so finding a leader who doesn't threaten the No. 1 represents the smartest course of action.
As for Rodgers? He's running out of viable options. A recent throwing session with new Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver D.K. Metcalf was the biggest hint yet that he'll join Mike Tomlin's men for the 2025 campaign. Looking at the current lay of the land around the league, that's the best remaining spot to start and potentially be successful.
That won't matter to the Vikings, whose sole focus is on making sure McCarthy is up to speed and ready to make a significant impact. With an outstanding offensive line, a strong running game, and weapons like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson, there's a good chance he can meet or potentially surpass initial expectations.
Going forward with McCarthy is the best-case scenario. If he performs well, all this speculation around Rodgers will be a distant memory.
