The Minnesota Vikings seem poised to hand over the starting quarterback role to J.J. McCarthy, who is looking to bounce back after his rookie season was derailed by injury.
After parting ways with Sam Darnold—who helped the team to an impressive 14-win season but fell short in the playoffs—the Vikings appear ready to put their faith in McCarthy once again. Despite his recovery and return to full health, McCarthy revealed in a March interview with Kay Adams that the team hasn’t officially named him the starter.
However, some analysts have it that the team still considers bringing in a veteran backup as a safety net.
“I’m glad they haven’t,” McCarthy said. “I want to earn it every single day. I never want anything handed to me. This opportunity is a privilege, and I’m going to make the most of it every day.”
While big names like Aaron Rodgers continue to be loosely linked to Minnesota, with Rodgers reportedly reaching out to head coach Kevin O’Connell, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox believes a more practical choice would be veteran Joe Flacco.
“Flacco makes more sense for the Vikings,” Knox wrote. “He’s proven he can mentor younger quarterbacks without stealing the spotlight. Last season with the Colts, Flacco stepped in when needed but also supported the development of the team’s future.”
A former $120 million quarterback, Flacco has embraced the mentor role in recent years. For a young QB like McCarthy, having a calm, experienced voice in the locker room could be the ideal scenario. Plus, Flacco wouldn’t draw the media frenzy that would inevitably follow a player like Rodgers.
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