The Minnesota Vikings are pushing all of their chips in on second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy this season, which is a significant wager considering he is 22 years old and has never taken an NFL snap in a game that counts.
After passing on Aaron Rodgers earlier this offseason, Minnesota has only Sam Howell and Brett Rypien as alternative options behind McCarthy should the young quarterback sustain injury or struggle early on -- even despite having what many analysts consider a championship-caliber roster around him.
ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler appeared on the Saturday evening, June 14 edition of "SportsCenter" and offered Minnesota's position on McCarthy after nearly a week and a half of preseason work.
The Vikings feel like JJ McCarthy in Day 9 of these offseason workouts was a lot stronger than Day 1. Coming off that knee issue they knew he could start a little slowly, but they like the way he's throwing the ball, they feel very comfortable with where he's at going into training camp.
They didn't sign [Aaron] Rodgers ... because they believe in their three-year plan -- a young quarterback they like on a rookie scale. So they'll be aggressive on the roster [around him]. They believe they can win a Super Bowl in the next three years.
Should Minnesota prove incorrect in their assessment of McCarthy, at least during what is essentially his rookie campaign in 2025, there is always the possibility the team could attempt to trade with the Atlanta Falcons for Kirk Cousins.
Atlanta is looking to move off the four-time Pro Bowler, who played the best football of his career in Minnesota and enjoyed living there.
If the Vikings are willing to send Howell or a Day-3 draft asset to the Falcons and pick up somewhere in the $10 million range of Cousins' $27.5 million salary in 2025, Minnesota may be able to reunite with the aging quarterback and secure an insurance policy behind McCarthy.
