Blake Cashman predicts J.J. McCarthy will be a 'great player' for the Minnesota Vikings

The oddsmakers suggest that Sam Darnold will be the Vikings starting quarterback, but at least one Minnesota player believes J.J. McCarthy is a future star.

McCarthy, of course, was the Vikings first round choice of the NFL Draft back in April, with the Michigan quarterback coming off the board at pick No. 10. Minnesota also signed Darnold, a former elite first rounder, from the 49ers as the team preps for life after Kirk Cousins.

McCarthy led Michigan to the national championship back in January. And later this month, the presence of Darnold may give him a more relaxed timeline for his rookie season. While other rookies, like Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, are likely first-day starters, McCarthy may have the luxury of time with the Vikings.

Enter Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman, who signed with the team for this season.

“[He’s] 21 years old, but a great young man,” Cashman said this week on *The Jim Rome Show*. “He’s a leader (and) he’s eager to learn. 

“A lot of young guys, sometimes they can come in, be a little timid or shy,” Cashman said of McCarthy. “But he’s walking around the locker room, big smile on his face, shaking hands, getting to know everybody.”

Vikings likely will go with Darnold as they develop McCarthy

Cashman has some personal experience with rookie quarterbacks. He played for the Jets, when the team selected Zach Wilson with the No. 2 overall pick. The Wilson experiment was a failed one and he’s now vying for the Broncos starting job.

Cashman also played for the Texans last year. And in CJ Stroud, Houston saw the upper end of what a rookie can accomplish under center. Stroud, the former Ohio State star, was the No. 2 pick of the 2023 draft. He led the Texans to a AFC South title and into the second round of the playoffs.

The linebacker and rookie linebacker haven’t been teammates for long. They went through OTAs and minicamp together. That’s it. There will be more when training camp starts July 27.

“I didn’t know much about his game before,” Cashman said. “I knew he was an outstanding quarterback. Winning followed him at Michigan. But I didn’t realize how much heat he can put on the ball.

“He’s got a great long ball. And even those tight windows, where it closes fast at the next level, he can zip the ball past a linebacker or safety’s head and squeeze it in those tight windows. That’s very promising to see.”

At least in early July, Darnold is the favorite for the starting job. Back in 2018, the Jets selected him with the third pick of the draft. He was the starter to kick off the season. That’s when he became the youngest opening-day starting quarterback since the NFL and AFL merged. Darnold has started 56 games for three teams — the Jets, Panthers and 49ers.

Although Darnold may take the opening snaps, Cashman sees only good things ahead for McCarthy, the Vikings rookie.

“He’s gonna be a great player for a long time, and I can’t wait to continue to see his growth,” Cashman said. “Not only as a quarterback with his skills, but also becoming an even smarter player.”