The loaded question of the 2025 NFL offseason has been, "What do the Minnesota Vikings have in quarterback J.J. McCarthy?"
Everyone knows how McCarthy was in college. He excelled in Michigan, with a 27-1 record, and won a national championship last year. His performance landed him in the top 10 of the NFL Draft, with the Vikings taking him tenth overall.
His torn meniscus made it even more difficult to fully evaluate the type of quarterback he will be in the NFL. The potential McCarthy brings to the table is enough to have Minnesota fans excited to see him on the field.
How to evaluate the potential of Minnesota Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy compared to other NFL QBs
PFF's John Kosko recently ranked all 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL and separated them by six tiers. McCarthy landed in tier four, described as "young players with a wide range of potential outcomes."
Kosko has McCarthy ranked 21st overall and third within the tier behind Bo Nix at 19th and Bryce Young at 20th. McCarthy's play in college helped him rank higher within the tier, but without much NFL experience, Kosko turned to college for his evaluation.
"I’m leaning on my personal evaluation here, as I had McCarthy as the top quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft. We didn’t get to see him as a rookie, but his 2023 season at Michigan— where he earned a 92.2 PFF grade and a 93.4 passing grade — highlighted everything you want in a young passer. If he’s fully healthy in 2025, and considering what Sam Darnold managed in this offense, McCarthy is set up to succeed."
Fans only saw McCarthy on an NFL field in the preseason last year against the Las Vegas Raiders. In that contest, he threw for 188 yards and two touchdowns to one interception.
What will help McCarthy in his development is a combination of great talent on the roster and Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell.
McCarthy will have Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson to throw it to, which is among the best pass-catching trios in the league, adding O'Connell's impeccable ability to develop quarterbacks like Sam Darnold and make them into Pro Bowlers.
McCarthy has all the tools to be a successful quarterback, even though he will experience bumps and bruises early in the season. The right supporting cast will bring out his potential and help him exceed all expectations.