The Minnesota Vikings are a couple weeks away from training camp beginning. The highs coming off drafting quarterback J.J. McCarthy are in the rear view mirror now.
It’s been quite clear from day one that the Vikings are pursuing the long-term development plan with McCarthy and have been been quite good at tempering any promising expectations to the fans. Does that mean McCarthy isn’t even good enough to win the backup quarterback position or are the Vikings doing everything they can to avoid seeing him in action anytime soon?
Are the Minnesota Vikings purposely pushing J.J. McCarthy down the depth chart?
The voice of the Minnesota Vikings, Paul Allen (KFAN), recently was asked on his 9 to Noon Show about the Vikings’ quarterback situation and his thoughts on the quarterback depth chart. Well, for those hoping McCarthy has a chance at starting week one against the New York Giants may have to pump the breaks a bit. Heck, McCarthy may not even be the backup according to Allen.
— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) July 8, 2024According to @PAOnTheMic via @KFAN1003, he makes “prohibitively favored” for the #Vikings to keep 3 QBs (Sam Darnold, Nick Mullens, J.J. McCarthy) and that it’s a “long-ish shot fashion” McCarthy wins the backup/QB2 job 😳
“I would make it prohibitively favored in that it would… pic.twitter.com/bCfl1qSxYc
I would make it prohibitively favored in that it would be Sam Darnold starting, Nick Mullens as the backup, and then J.J. McCarthy as the third quarterback.
Now, what’s next for Jaren Hall? I have absolutely no idea. Obviously, if you put McCarthy on the practice squad, then that ain’t going to work because you’ll lose him.
But this is an opportunity for McCarthy. Punchers chance would be too strong, but long-ish shot fashion to win the two job in training camp. And I don’t necessarily know if it’s going to happen, but I would make three quarterbacks on the active roster prohibitively favored.
Paul Allen (KFAN – 9 to Noon)
It’s not much of a surprise that the Minnesota Vikings will roll into the season opener with Sam Darnold leading the way, but the fact that McCarthy is a “long-ish shot fashion” to win the backup job is interesting. Allen even mentioned that a “punchers chance” is too strong of an opportunity of winning the backup job. Quarterbacks drafted in the top-10 statistically are never pushed down the depth chart that far, so this signals that the Vikings are intentionally trying to avoid McCarthy seeing an NFL field anytime soon.
J.J. McCarthy will make the 53-man roster, but is another quarterback drafted by the Minnesota Vikings on his way out?
Not only did Allen give his best prediction on the quarterback depth chart heading into the 2024 NFL season, but he also noted how the Minnesota Vikings will keep only three quarterbacks. This means that 2023 5th-round draft pick Jaren Hall is the odd man out.
— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) March 23, 2024
Hall struggled mightily in the limited time he saw the field last season, which ended up leading him to be benched in the New Year’s Eve game against the Green Bay Packers. Although Hall struggled last season, he likely is a good candidate to stash on the Vikings’ practice squad.
Keeping four quarterbacks makes zero sense. Darnold will be the starting quarterback heading into the season, and it sounds like the team doesn’t want McCarthy being one play away from seeing an NFL field meaning Nick Mullens will be the backup.
In the end, the Vikings’ staff and coaches have been adamant about their long-term development plan for McCarthy. He will see the field one day, but until that time comes, Vikings’ fans will need patience.
