ESPN analyst compares J.J. McCarthy to former No. 1 draft pick

Depending on who you talk to, the expectations and projections for Minnesota Vikings first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy can vary wildly. Some see a bright future in the former University of Michigan quarterback while others believe he will struggle mightily as a professional.

The Vikings are in a good position where they won't need to start McCarthy immediately since they brought in Sam Darnold to hold down the job until the young quarterback is ready for action. However, he will need to take the field eventually during the regular season and it will be interesting to see how he fares as a professional.

There haven't been a lot of comparisons made for J.J. McCarthy but a recent comparison should have Minnesota fans a bit interested in seeing more from the Vikings' No. 10 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.

ESPN analyst compares J.J. McCarthy to former No. 1 draft pick

Retired quarterback and NFL analyst for ESPN Dan Orlovsky thinks that McCarthy is "almost robotic" and "committed to the rhythm and timing of the pass game" in a way that reminds him of Jaguars' No. 1 overall pick in 2021, Trevor Lawrence.

Orlovsky seems to want to see McCarthy be more willing to trust himself instead of the design and structure of the play. The example he gives in the video is a prime example of something that Trevor Lawrence does at times.

Hopefully plays like this will evolve under head coach Kevin O'Connell with the Minnesota Vikings. As McCarthy gains experience under center in the NFL, he should become more comfortable making plays that don't require specific timing or structure.

It will help McCarthy to have a recevier like Justin Jefferson who can make amazing adjustments to passes. Also, having a tight end with a huge catch radius like T.J. Hockenson will assist in making his transition to the professional level a bit easier.

In a draft class where McCarthy was the fifth quarterback taken, it isn't surprising that there are some areas of his game that could use some improvement. In fact, there are very few college prospects who enter the league and have virtually no issues to address.

Dan Orlovsky's concerns about J.J. McCarthy are valid, but they are far from something that should hold the young quarterback from showing his potential. Thankfully, McCarthy is in a good situation with a solid support system to help him be all that he can be for the Minnesota Vikings.