The Minnesota Vikings are once again slated for a very different quarterback room in 2025, but it is unclear who will share it with JJ McCarthy.
JJ McCarthy was forced to wait for the entirety of the 2024 season. He was expected to start at some point, but instead was forced to watch in horror as Sam Darnold made a strong case to be the Vikings’ quarterback of the future.
Well, the Minnesota Vikings ultimately chose him, leading to perhaps one of the loudest exhalations of the 2025 NFL offseason. However, JJ McCarthy has a new problem. Almost like the meme GIF featuring Will Smith looking around an empty room, the Vikings have McCarthy and only him. While the problem is far smaller for McCarthy than Sam Darnold, it is a source of anxiety nonetheless.
Aaron Rodgers won’t join the Vikings, so seemingly the only other spot left to fill the room is the NFL Draft. Of course, there is no reason to take a high-end quarterback who could challenge McCarthy. The Vikings arguably don’t even have the draft capital to spare with just four picks in the entire 2025 NFL Draft and only one between picks 1-96.
#1 – Round 1, Pick 24: Sharon Revel, CB, East Carolina
The Vikings had an impressive rushing defense, ranking second in the entire NFL. However, their secondary was in the bottom five in terms of yards allowed per game. As such, the Vikings should get one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL Draft.
Revel ranks near the top of the pecking order, with his best selling points coming in 2023 and in 2024. In 2023, Revel logged 54 tackles, an interception, a sack, and 13 passes defended in 13 games.
However, 2024 might have been a better showing with two interceptions logged in a three-game span, including a pick-six.
#2 – Round 3, Pick 97: RJ Harvey, RB, Central Florida
Aaron Jones is on the wrong side of 30 and had injury troubles in 2024, which means it’s time for the Vikings to start looking for a successor. RJ Harvey could be that player. A participant at the 2025 Senior Bowl, Harvey has slipped under the radar amid the Ashton Jeanty talk.
Harvey logged nearly 3000 yards and 38 touchdowns on the ground in his final two seasons. The Vikings have a strong wide receiver room, but will need a solid running game guarantee for their quarterback to succeed. Harvey and Jones combined would take the Lion’s share of the pressure off McCarthy.
#3 – Round 5, Pick 139: Malachi Moore, S, Alabama
Moore had a full college career and then some, arriving in the NFL as one of the last waves of players coached by Nick Saban. He won a championship with the coach in 2020 and has as much experience as any player entering the NFL.
The Vikings’ biggest gap on their roster is in their secondary and Moore adds the chance to improve the unit further. The lower the opponent’s score, the more it will help McCarthy settle into his role. The Vikings should take a quarterback in the NFL Draft, but not with their first three picks. They need someone who won’t pressure McCarthy but still offers a slim chance of a solution if McCarthy fails.
