Vikings to receive calls for JJ McCarthy as Sam Darnold’s impact could see them change direction

Minnesota Vikings could recover draft picks by trading away JJ McCarthy as Sam Darnold shines as starting quarterback.

Vikings to receive calls for JJ McCarthy as Sam Darnold’s impact could see them change direction

Minnesota Vikings could field calls for JJ McCarthy after Sam Darnold's stellar season (Image via X)

The Minnesota Vikings are standing with a stellar 14-2 record in a season where many expected them to tank. That was because rookie 1st round draft pick JJ McCarthy ended his debut season even before taking a regular season snap. Moreover, they were handing over to a journeyman Sam Darnold.

Darnold turned out to excel as their starter in head coach Kevin O’Connell’s system and he currently lies fourth in yards thrown and fifth in TD’s. His 12 interceptions still has him standing amongst the worst in the league.

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But if one were to take away five of them he incurred from two back-to-back games, he could be among the best. Since those two games, he fixed his mistakes and has had only two in their last seven games. That improvement has forced the Minnesota Vikings into rethinking their quarterback situation.

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On one hand, Darnold is as steady as they come and has been instrumental in the Vikings becoming one of the best teams in the league. On the other hand, they have JJ McCarthy waiting in the wings as he recovers from his season ending injury. When Adam Schefter was speaking on ESPN Radio, he said this.

In a limited quarterback draft class, where there are far more teams that need QB’s than QB’s who can step in right away, I definitely think teams will be checking in with the Vikings to see if they have any interest in trading J.J. McCarthy.

Adam Schefter said.

The ESPN Insider continued to say that he felt JJ McCarthy would’ve been a top quarterback in the upcoming NFL Draft. The prospect of that could see quarterback needy teams giving the Minnesota Vikings back some of the draft capital they lost when they moved up to pick him.

Vikings have to take a decision on Sam Darnold’s contract before deciding on JJ McCarthy

The Minnesota Vikings could also go in a different direction and keep JJ McCarthy on their roster. As a young developmental quarterback, he could sit behind Sam Darnold and learn as they go. At the same time, the team could continue winning and forget about rebuilding.

Vikings have to take a call on Sam Darnold's contract
Vikings have to take a call on Sam Darnold’s contract (Image via X)

However, there is one decision they will have to take once their season ends. Sam Darnold signed a 1-year $10 million contract to join the franchise, as they expected him to first start and then hand over the reins to McCarthy down the line.

But the situation has changed, and the 27-year-old has given them all the proof of him being a capable starter in their system. With his contract negotiations up after this season, the Vikings will have to take a call on him.

They could franchise tag Darnold to see how he fares next season. Spending $41.3 million for one season is better than spending a similar amount for a longer period of time, especially with the past uncertainty surrounding his play.

That could also give them time to rethink their JJ McCarthy situation. If the rookie develops enough to take over the starting job, they could avoid giving Darnold a longer contract. If Darnold proves that he is a capable franchise QB, they could give him a longer contract after next season. Then they could field calls for a trade for their rookie.