ESPN: Vikings preparing to give J.J. McCarthy 'true redshirt year' in 2024 due to Sam Darnold

J.J. McCarthy might not see the field in 2024 due to Sam Darnold while the Minnesota Vikings bring along their rookie quarterback.

The No. 10 overall pick out of Michigan is seen as the future of the franchise, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. However, Minnesota and head coach Kevin O’Connell are high on Darnold, a former No. 3 overall pick.

Darnold has untapped potential per Fowler, and that’ll allow McCarthy to develop in Year 1.

“And you got JJ McCarthy so the Vikings have a detailed plan for him,” Fowler said on SportsCenter. “Obviously the long-term starter and he played a lot of games in Michigan, but not in a really high volume passing attack like Minnesota might offer him. So that’s why they’re gonna incrementally bring him along, doesn’t have to start right away. It could be a situation where he gets a true redshirt year in part because I’m told the Vikings are really high on Sam Darnold. 

“They believe he has untapped potential. A lot of people around the league have been really high on his skill set but never really matched that potential. But the Vikings feel like hey, we have a supporting cast now that you’ve never had before. We got the coaching and everything in place, so they believe maybe he can take off a little bit.”

The concept of McCarthy developing and learning as a rookie is not a foreign concept to the national champion quarterback.

“The only expectations I put on myself is to know the playbook inside and out, to be the best teammate I could possibly be, show up and work harder than everyone else in this building,” McCarthy said. I don’t know if I can outdo (coach Kevin O’Connell), but I’ll try. But yeah, (those are the) only expectations for myself.”

McCarthy wants to be out there with a loaded offense. But, he has to bide his time, learn and develop for now.

“Being the competitive that I am, of course (I want to play),” McCarthy said. “But this is such a blessing for me, like I grew up watching Sam Darnold my entire life. And being able to just sit there and watch him, watch Nick (Mullens), watch (Jarren Hall) and it’s not what they say to me. It’s what they do and just being a sponge. 

“Just observing them and eventually, hopefully, one day surpassing them, but right now, you know, they’re just phenomenal human beings that are sharing their wisdom with me. And, you know, I just can’t thank them enough for that and I can’t wait for training camp.”