If you're a Minnesota Vikings fan and you were following the NFL media this offseason, it was likely you heard just about every sports talk personality weigh in on what they thought the team should do at the quarterback position.
Once Sam Darnold signed with the Seattle Seahawks, it was clear that there would be a new starting quarterback. Most fans assumed that job would belong to 2024 first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy. Some thought Minnesota would look for another short-term answer to keep the momentum from last season alive.
The Minnesota Vikings stuck by quarterback J.J. McCarthy this offseason
One of the biggest talking points this season was former Green Bay Packers and New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers possibly coming to the Minnesota Vikings. This sounded like something the old brass of the team would do if they felt they were close to contending for a Super Bowl.
This idea divided the fan base. While some were ready for J.J. McCarthy to take the lead, others were concerned about his health and recovery from a meniscus tear that forced him to miss last season.
At this moment, all indications are that McCarthy will be ready to roll. The Vikings stuck by their young quarterback this offseason, giving him former Seahawks quarterback Sam Howell as his backup with Brett Rypien and Max Brosmer rounding out the passers on the roster.
Making the decision not to go with a more experienced quarterback this season is a bold one, but it is also a decision that drew praise from ESPN's Dan Orlovsky and Adam Schefter during an episode of NFL Live.
The two talked about how they expect J.J. McCarthy to be similar to what the Vikings had with Sam Darnold last season. Schefter made it a point to discuss how Minnesota has surrounded their young quarterback with talent that can give him the best chance to succeed in 2025.
Despite all the excitement and intrigue surrounding J.J. McCarthy, it still isn't known how he will fare as a starting quarterback in an NFL regular-season game. His ceiling is extremely high, but the floor could also be very low for his play this season.
Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers is a Super Bowl champion and four-time MVP, but is 41 years old and coming off an extremely disappointing stint with the Jets. It's refreshing to see the Minnesota Vikings not look to an aging quarterback to make a run at the Super Bowl and instead invest in their future to build a long-term contender.