It is still far too early to make a final call on whether the Minnesota Vikings made the right decision or not, but J.J. McCarthy has “done nothing” to disprove the naysayers.
The decision, of course, was letting Daniel Jones and Sam Darnold leave for greener pastures (i.e., clearer paths to starting) in free agency, and passing on other veteran options like Aaron Rodgers, to provide McCarthy with a long runway to develop.
All three of those quarterbacks are performing well, while the Vikings’ stance still faces doubt.
Vikings’ Commitment to J.J. McCarthy Could Prove Costly
GettyMinnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell talks with J.J. McCarthy #9 before a game against the Atlanta Falcons.
The Athletic’s Mike Sando explored the Vikings’ “rare situation” and “unprecedented decision” to stick with McCarthy, who remained sidelined during Thursday’s practice.
It is based more on their investment and faith in what he could be than on tangible evidence.
“There’s nothing wrong with an NFL team drafting a quarterback and giving him a long runway, tolerating ups and downs as part of a development plan. The young prospect sometimes beats the available alternatives anyway,” Sando wrote on October 2. “Going this route is much tougher to stomach when a team is coming off a 14-win season and possessing the NFL’s most expensive roster, when the coach and general manager are pushing to win a playoff game for the first time entering their fourth season together.
“But here the Minnesota Vikings are, having already lost nearly as many times in their first four games this season (twice) as they did in the 2024 regular season (three times), without feeling any better about their outlook.”
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell updated McCarthy’s status on Wednesday.
Darnold and Jones are “playing the best ball of their careers,” according to Sando. Sando also wrote that Darnold and Jones’ play “would be more footnote than headline” if McCarthy was not “so shaky” during his two starts this season before suffering an ankle injury that sidelined him.
Carson Wentz has assumed QB1 duties, at least for the time being.
Compounding the issue, the Vikings also boast the most cash spent on their roster in the league this season at $345 million, per Over The Cap.
“McCarthy might one day develop into a top quarterback, but there is zero evidence so far that he’s capable of playing that way soon,” Sando wrote, noting the Vikings “should be primed for the now.”
Rarity of Vikings’ Decision Amplifies Scrutiny
GettyJ.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on against the Chicago Bears.
Some rival executives still question the Vikings, with one anonymous executive telling Sando, “I thought it was absolutely crazy what they did, … and I thought it was crazy when they did it. To take a quarterback (Darnold) who won that many games and to go to J.J. McCarthy, who you don’t know can play, I just don’t get it.”
Others, Sando noted, expressed similar trepidation about the decision as the Vikings.
Still, the general sentiment around the Vikings’ switch from Darnold to McCarthy was one of skepticism, with another anonymous executive saying Minnesota was “kind of stuck.” The exec also noted that, whatever the difficulty level, the Vikings make questionable decisions.
“I think they certainly could have made a better choice,” the exec said, per Sando. “I just don’t know who it was.”
Sando noted that 97 teams have won 80% of their games in a single regular season.
Of those, 94 brought back the same QB the following season. One instance was John Elway, who retired from the Denver Broncos in 1998. The two others? Both Vikings’ decisions, with the Darnold-McCarthy transition joining the switch from Case Keenum to Kirk Cousins in 2018.
The Vikings kept Randall Cunningham in 1999 but benched him for Jeff George that season, but the 2025 Vikings chose an alternative path.
There are also fewer positive than negative comparable examples in Sando’s piece.
The Broncos turned to Paxton Lynch after Peyton Manning retired in 2016, and the San Francisco 49ers chose Trey Lance in 2021, moving on from Jimmy Garoppolo. However, the 2018 Kansas City Chiefs allowed Alex Smith to leave in favor of Patrick Mahomes.
Vikings Will Face Historic Decision Head On
GettySam Darnold #14 of the Seattle Seahawks looks on against the Arizona Cardinals.
The Vikings moved on from Darnold after a Pro Bowl and historic 14-win season in 2024, opting not to commit to him like the Seattle Seahawks did, with a three-year, $100.5 million contract.
Jones accepted $1 million less than the Vikings offered to join the Indianapolis Colts.
Rodgers’ interest in signing with the Vikings was well-documented, even as the Pittsburgh Steelers had an offer on the table that the four-time MVP eventually accepted. Rodgers and the Steelers beat the Vikings in Dublin in Week 4.
The Vikings will not face Jones and the 3-1 Colts, but they will travel to face Darnold’s Seahawks in Week 13.
It is unclear if McCarthy will be the starter by then, given the way Wentz has played.
Decisions, like the Vikings’ trade for Sam Howell – whom they subsequently traded to the Philadelphia Eagles – or even revamping their offensive line, have not panned out. Not yet. Still, McCarthy is the most important factor, and so far, the Vikings do not have enough information.
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