Former Michigan Wolverines QB JJ McCarthy may be in line for the starting job with the Vikings in 2025, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter said the likelihood of Sam Darnold returning to Minnesota is “not high”:
Former Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy was drafted into a very good situation with the Minnesota Vikings at the No. 10 overall pick last April. The Vikings were so worried about missing out on McCarthy that they moved up a single spot from No. 11 to No. 10 to go get their guy.
Unfortunately for McCarthy, his first year in the NFL was one to forget. He began as the backup to Sam Darnold entering training camp, which was a very expected development. What wasn’t expected, however, was McCarthy needing surgery to repair a torn meniscus that he sustained in the Vikings’ first preseason game. He became the first quarterback selected in the first round of the NFL Draft to miss his entire rookie season due to an injury.
Another unexpected development was Darnold playing well for a majority of the 2024 season. Darnold never threw more than 19 touchdowns and eclipsed 3,000 passing yards just once in his career up until last season for Minnesota when he completed a career-high 66.2 percent of his throws for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Darnold was named a Pro Bowler, was third in the voting for NFL Comeback Player of the Year and was 10th for NFL MVP.
Given how Darnold had played in the NFL — not great — prior to last season, Minnesota only signed him to a one-year deal. It was heavily assumed Darnold would be a bridge for McCarthy, but given Darnold’s unexpectedly great 2024 season, the Vikings had a tough decision, yet a good problem, on their hands.
Whether the Vikings bring Darnold back remains to be seen — NFL free agency opens next week — but much like Michigan did during McCarthy’s sophomore year in 2022, it sure sounds like Minnesota is going to roll with the younger, more talented option.
According to ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter on The Paul Allen Show , the likelihood of Darnold returning to Minnesota is, “Not high” and that, “I don’t view it as a likely scenario right now.”
Not long after Schefter said that, the Seattle Seahawks traded Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders, and Seattle is reportedly going to pursue Darnold in free agency. If that comes to fruition, that would all but solidify McCarthy as the favorite to start for Minnesota in the fall.
We will know the answers to all these questions soon enough, as NFL free agency officially begins Wednesday, although teams can begin negotiating with free agents on Monday during the league’s “legal tampering period.”