NFL News: Former Josh Allen teammate boosts J.J. McCarthy’s stock with huge comparison

Imagine not having played one snap in the NFL and already being compared to the reigning MVP. That’s the life of Minnesota Vikings‘ quarterback, J.J. McCarthy. The former Buffalo Bills‘ DT, Harrison Phillips, shared locker room with Josh Allen. Now in Minnesota, Phillips compared the two QBs in certain aspects.

Speaking to the press, Phillips said that McCarthy has “got some confidence.” He added that the Viking’s QB “reminds me of Josh Allen when I was with him in Buffalo. Coming into his own and understanding the power that he has to lead this organization, and he’s doing a fantastic job doing that.“

Those are big words from a guy who shared battles in the gridiron with Allen for years. McCarthy has a lot of hype behind him. He was picked 10th overall in last year’s NFL Draft and was fresh off a College Football championship with Michigan. He was trained by Jim Harbaugh, making him a top-tier prospect in his class. Unfortunately, he suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee that left him out of his rookie year.

The Vikings have high hopes for McCarthy

J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings warms up before the preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders at U.S. Bank Stadium on August 10, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Minnesota had a wonderful 2024 season with Sam Darnold under center. Now that Darnold’s gone, it’s time for McCarthy to step up into his destined role as a franchise QB. Having a teammate like Phillips endorse you in a way comparable to the MVP is a very good first step.

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The DT continued to praise McCarthy’s leadership. “He understands that we have to build a family here and that you can’t have unique results without unique relationships.” This goes back to the 2024 NFL Draft. His then-coach Harbaugh not only stated he was the best signal-caller in the draft, but a great leader.

Vikings’ HC Kevin O’Connell has established himself as an offensive genius. Having exceled with a guy like Darnold, whose future in the NFL was in a dire situation, speaks to his talent. Now, it’s up to McCarthy to replicate the results. Last year, Minnesota ended with a 14-3 record. However, they got stomped on by the Rams in the Wild Card round. The hopes are that McCarthy can take them further.

McCarthy is not alone, Vikings’ offense is stacked!

While some teams in the NFL are highly QB dependant (looking at you Buffalo), others have a roster to help the guy under center out. Minnesota is one of those teams. They offer McCarthy plenty of tools to succeed. Of course, as stated before, all behind O’Connell’s masterful playcalling.

Let’s start with the obvious, WR Justin Jefferson. The LSU alumn is arguably the best wide receiver in football. His spectacular output is seconded by Jordan Addison. Between both of them, they managed to get 2,408 yards and 19 TDs in 2024. As for the tight end, T.J. Hockenson is one of the most talented players in that position. The former Lion is looking to bounce back after 2024 saw him play only 10 games due to injury.

On the ground, Aaron Jones is an absolute workhorse. He racked up 1,138 yards and 5 TDs last year, but is also a great checkdown option for McCarthy. Jones also added 408 yards and 2 TDs as a pass-catcher in his debut season as a Viking.

All things are shaping up for McCarthy to have a stellar season. He is regarded as the present and future in Minnesota, so a deep playoff run is expected. Can he deliver? At least it seems like the team has his back.