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Kirk Herbstreit: Minnesota Vikings will go to another level with JJ McCarthy as starting QB

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko•03/04/25•

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Kirk Herbstreit said the Minnesota Vikings are about to go to anther level with JJ McCarthy at quarterback in 2025.

With the Vikings electing to not franchise tag or re-sign, as of now, Sam Darnold and let him walk to free agency, McCarthy is ready to step up. Herbstreit equated it to how McCarthy stepped up for Michigan and took the Wolverines to new heights offensively.

Despite a 14-3 record this season, Minnesota lost in the NFC Wild Card round to the Los Angeles Rams.

“You never know with quarterbacks, but watching these guys and watching the intangibles, putting (Kevin O’Connell) with JJ McCarthy and the talent on that roster, to me, the Vikings go to another level with JJ McCarthy,” Herbstreit said on The Pat McAfee Show.

McCarthy suffered a knee injury in the preseason and could not play the entire 2024 campaign. It opened the door to Darnold taking command of the position, seeing no competition and setting career highs across the board.

It seems as though Darnold will be paid handsomely for his efforts this past season. But since the Vikings spent the No. 10 pick on McCarthy last year, their investment in the former Wolverine is evident.

“I just give a lot of credit to (Kevin O’Connell’s) ability to evaluate quarterbacks and ability to, if he’s willing to let go of Sam Darnold …  You know, think about what Kirk Cousins did at his age in that offense,” Herbstreit said. “And now picture Kirk Cousins at 23 or 24 with mobility, like, you know, we get around these guys in college. What JJ McCarthy did for Michigan to get them over the hump in (‘22), now he was a quarterback, and they were a great defense and a lot of great players on that team, but he gets them over the hump where they beat Ohio State in (‘22) gets them to the playoff … ended up losing to TCU in a game they should have won. 

“Think of that three year run, beat Ohio State, lose to Georgia, beat Ohio State, get to the playoff, probably should have beat TCU. Should have been in the national championship, come back the very next year and get it all done. That’s on his back, that’s him doing that.”