After a 14-3 season, the Minnesota Vikings are still trying to change some things up. More importantly, their quarterback. With Sam Darnold gone, it’s time for young prospect J.J. McCarthy to step up into the starting role. The team’s best player, Justin Jefferson has let known his feelings about their new starting signal-caller.
“As his teammate and as a captain of the team, just trying to make him dialed in every chance that I can,” Jefferson said to Yahoo Sports’ Jason Fitz. “Our lockers are right next to each other, so every chance that I get to talk to him about football, about anything that goes on outside of football. Just try to get to know him as much as I can because when the season comes and whenever we’re locked in, I want him to be just as confident as I am of him to make the plays out there.”
This is a big endorsement for a quarterback who hasn’t even taken a single snap in the NFL yet. McCarthy was turning heads the last preseason as a rookie until a fatal season-ending knee injury made the Vikings look for another option to play under center.
McCarthy’s potential is creating real hype
You know the team trusts McCarthy for two simple reasons. They didn’t go looking for another quarterback or re-signed Sam Darnold. Secondly, after what they’ve seen about him, teammates are giving praises. None come bigger than Justin Jefferson‘s.
A championship winner at the collegiate level with Michigan, McCarthy has been endorsed by everybody. Jim Harbaugh coached him and even said he was the best quarterback of his class. While he wasn’t as spectacular as others, McCarthy was efficient. With Kevin O’Connell being his head coach, all things should go smooth as his style and playbook is very QB-friendly.
The Vikings are in need of a franchise quarterback
The Vikings have been a very good team for years now. However, one thing has lacked ever since Brett Favre called it quits: an elite quarterback. Kirk Cousins took the lead for years but was never able to make them go over the hump. Sam Darnold had a stellar season but his form wasn’t enough to deliver postseason success.
Now, if McCarthy manages to be clutch, the Vikings might have something to hold in their hands: the chance for Super Bowl runs. While that be delivered this year or in the future remains to be seen, but at least there is confidence in the new quarterback to get things done.