Kevin O'Connell labels Sam Darnold current starting quarterback over J.J. McCarthy

When the Minnesota Vikings traded up one spot in the 2024 NFL Draft and selected J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick, it was safe to assume that the former Michigan quarterback would be the quarterback of the future for the Vikings. But maybe not the immediate future.

At OTAs, Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell was recently asked who would currently be the team’s starter under center. Labeling newly signed quarterback Sam Darnold as the top guy at the moment for the Vikings.

“We haven’t had to put out a depth chart or anything like that, but yeah, I would say Sam would be the guy I would look to based upon the spring he’s had and really where he’s at in his career, in his quarterback journey, and what he’s been able to do coming in and really hit the ground running and really kind of take advantage of a competitive situation,” O’Connell said.

Darnold signed a one-year, $10 million deal with Minnesota following a one-year stint as a backup quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. Representing the most experienced quarterback in a Vikings quarterback room that O’Connell has been impressed with this offseason.

“But at the same time JJ’s really improved, Nick Mullens has had a great spring, and Jaren [Hall] has also improved. So I’ve I’ve told all four of those guys look, depth charts are great and it’s great to understand where I’m at currently today. But that’ll mean really nothing you know about the future, that’ll mean nothing about a week or two out.”

“And most importantly, we played four them last year including one guy who was not in our building throughout the offseason or training camp and relied on him to come in and win a game and then try to play it out from there.”

After Kirk Cousins went down with a season-ending Achilles injury, Mullens, Hall, and Joshua Dobbs all took snaps under center last year for the Vikings. Further adding an emphasis for O’Connell to focus on the development and preparation of his entire quarterback room ahead of the season.

“So I have total understanding of we only control so much in this whole thing and that’s what I’ve challenged the quarterbacks to do is control what you can. Which is your preparation, how detailed can you be, and can you stack good periods of practice together, good days together?” O’Connell asked. “And before you know, you’re looking up and it’s not about the camp you’ve had, it’s about your readiness to help the Minnesota Vikings win is hopefully what all of our players are going to be coming reporting back here with a mindset on.”

It will be fascinating to see how O’Connell manages the quarterback position this upcoming season ahead of a year with plenty of possibilities under center for Minnesota.