Expectations for the Minnesota Vikings are low at a national level this season. By the time 2024 ends, the Vikings could be relying on rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy and the narrative suggests they could be trending toward a top-ten pick.
But while many believe the Vikings are destined for the bottom of the NFC North, it hasn’t stopped national analysts from jumping on the bandwagon of another rookie, Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears.
FOX Sports’ Nick Wright is the latest analyst to hop aboard as he discussed expectations for Williams’s years. While some believe he could be this year’s version of C.J. Stroud, Wright took it a step forward, saying that Williams will take the Bears to the Super Bowl.
"“We’ve talked about things like ‘Has a No. 1 pick of a draft ever walked into a better situation than Caleb Williams with the Bears?’ …Once upon a time with rookie quarterbacks, it was like ‘Oh you’re starting a rookie. Get ready for an awful season,’ and then hopefully [you] rebound in the following years. That has not been the case, certainly with the frequency it was years ago.Nick Wright
We have seen in the last decade a lot of quarterbacks come close to breaking through and being a rookie to make the Super Bowl…and we also discussed how all of the other NFC contenders have…more and more red flags. …So all of those things are reasons the Bears Super Bowl take just started looking more and more attractive.”"
Wright went on to mention that Brock Purdy went to the Super Bowl in his first full season as a starter and C.J. Stroud led the Houston Texans to the divisional round. He also mentioned how NFC favorites such as the San Francisco 49ers – who are on the verge of trading Brandon Aiyuk – and the Philadelphia Eagles – who are having reported turmoil between quarterback Jalen Hurts and head coach Nick Sirianni – are having issues that could pave the way to New Orleans.
But while the Bears will be a popular sleeper pick – and as Wright suggested, potentially more popular after appearing on Hard Knocks – you could same argument for the Vikings.
Why isn't J.J. McCarthy getting the same hype as Caleb Williams?
The Vikings had the same record (7-10) as the Bears last year and may have a better infrastructure for McCarthy than the one that Williams is walking into in Chicago.
The Vikings (362) allowed fewer points than the Bears (379) did last season and added Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner to aid Brian Flores’s second year as defensive coordinator.
The Vikings also have a stable of offensive weapons including Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson. While the Bears added Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze to pair with D.J. Moore, Odunze is a fellow rookie while Allen is entering his age 32-season.
Add in Kevin O’Connell, who came from the vaunted Sean McVay coaching tree, and McCarthy could have a better infrastructure than Williams, who will be working with defensive head coach Matt Eberflus.
Perhaps national analysts are hung up on Sam Darnold, who will likely be the Vikings quarterback to start the season. But the Vikings will be playing in the same questionable landscape that Wright cited while predicting Williams will lead Chicago to the Super Bowl.
As the No. 1 overall pick, Williams will grab headlines in his rookie season. But the same people that are excited about Williams should be optimistic about McCarthy if becomes the starter this season.