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Building the Case for J.J. McCarthy as the Vikings’ QB1
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- Building the Case for J.J. McCarthy as the Vikings’ QB1
Brad Rempel
Later on Sunday, VikingsTerritory will publish “The Case for Kyler Murray ” as the Minnesota Vikings ’ QB1 in 2026. This is the sister edition, uplifting why J.J. McCarthy makes the most sense.
Minnesota ’s original quarterback plan still has life.
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The argument may not be as strong as Murray’s claim to the throne, but some still insist that McCarthy can be “that guy.”
McCarthy’s Best Stretch Offers a Decent Argument
The “why” for McCarthy as Minnesota’s QB1 .
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy watches from the sideline during preseason action against the Houston Texans on Aug. 9, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. McCarthy continued adjusting to the pace of the NFL while observing Minnesota’s offense during his first extended preseason as the organization’s young quarterback centerpiece. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Too Soon to Mail It In
The Vikings decided McCarthy was the best option for their franchise just over two years ago. In April 2024, he was their golden boy. Per the typical timeline of quarterback development, now is too soon to quit on the guy. Patience is a virtue. Ask the former employers of Sam Darnold or Baker Mayfield if they would’ve done things differently.
It’s one thing to quit on a franchise quarterback at age 25, 26, or 27. But 23? That’s wildly premature. The Vikings would basically be begging and inviting a different quarterback guru to “fix McCarthy” if they kicked him to the curb.
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The Production in December 2025
McCarthy tangibly got better down the stretch of 2025; there’s no denying it. The only caveat is that he faced weaker defenses in December and January.
There are the numbers:
J.J. McCarthy
,
EPA/Play Ranking in 2025:
Week 1-13: 35th of 35
Week 14: 18: 5th of 34
In the season’s first 13 weeks, McCarthy was the NFL’s single-worst quarterback. From Week 14 on, he became the fifth-best passer in the world by the numbers. Should his coaching staff really ignore that?
Youth
McCarthy is 23. Fans should’ve expected roadbumps for the young signal-caller — and roadbumps they got it.
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But let’s face it: Kevin O’Connell once said that organizations fail young quarterbacks before young quarterbacks fail organizations. Leaving a third-year player for dead at age 23 would fall victim to the very warning O’Connell issued.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy discusses his adjustment to the NFL during a media appearance following his arrival in Minnesota after the 2024 NFL Draft. McCarthy talked about Justin Jefferson, pregame meditation, music preferences, and life with the Vikings as the franchise prepared him to succeed Kirk Cousins as starting quarterback. Mandatory Credit: YouTube
McCarthy has more than enough time to improve his mechanics and become a franchise quarterback. He. Is. 23.
The Locker Room Part Is Down
Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill recently said about McCarthy , “Even through some of the low points, I mean, we were 4-8 at one point last year. We rattled off five straight. Like, guys believe in him, and guys wanted us to figure it out and be better as an offense. You hear the term ‘lose the locker room.’ He had the locker room more than anybody I’d seen ever.”
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“You want to root for him. You want to do well, and you want him to keep taking those next steps. If I was judged after my first 10 games in the NFL, I’m not playing right now. There’s a part of it where he’s still so fresh, and he’s only going to continue to get better,” continued O’Neill. “The whole attitude from us was, ‘How do we go there as an offense together?'”
O’Neill would not make that up. This suggests that McCarthy has the “leader of Men” aspect down.
The 4th Quarter Gene
Some of McCarthy’s brightest moments in 2025 occurred when the game was on the line. Indeed, he would struggle at times until the 4th quarter, which was not ideal, but during contests when nothing would go right, the youngster would find another level and lead his team when it mattered the most.
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If he wholly stunk, the clutch moments probably wouldn’t show up.
It’s a sweet starting point to employ the guy who does the hard part first. That is — if the Vikings can figure out how to extract consistency from McCarthy in quarters 1, 2, and 3, he already has the spine for the 4th quarter.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy speaks with a referee before a divisional matchup against the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 4, 2026, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. McCarthy entered the regular-season finale leading Minnesota in a critical NFC North contest as the Vikings continued battling for playoff positioning late in the year. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
The best evidence for this was Week 1 at the Chicago Bears . McCarthy looked like a raw rookie until the 4th quarter and later turned on the gas. Minnesota won the contest, and McCarthy won NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his troubles.
Sticking to the Plan
Sometimes, teams end up looking silly for quitting on a quarterback too early. The New York Jets look like clowns for drafting the aforementioned Darnold and not empowering him to succeed, especially after Darnold won a Super Bowl seven years later.
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The Cleveland Browns are in quarterback hell because they gave up on Mayfield.
It may be a little fear-based, but there’s a case for sticking with McCarthy so the Vikings don’t miss out on an eventually good thing. If the quarterback-whispering head coach can’t whisper to his hand-picked guy, is he really a quarterback whisperer?
