Minnesota Vikings Hit With Troubling J.J. McCarthy Prediction

The Minnesota Vikings were one of the feel-good stories of the 2024 NFL season.

From Sam Darnold’s career renaissance that led to him snagging a $100 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency to Aaron Jones’ bounce-back 1,100-yard rushing season following an injury-shortened 650-yard season the year before, there were plenty of storylines coming out of Minnesota.

While the team’s season ended with a disappointing 27-9 blowout loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round of the playoffs, most believe the Vikings are poised to be right back competing for a playoff spot in 2025.

However, Bleacher Report NFL analyst Moe Moton isn’t one of them.

In his latest column, Moton predicted the team from each division that will finish in last place, and the Vikings were his pick for the NFC North. And while there are a number of reasons Minnesota could miss the playoffs one season after going 14-3 and finishing in second place in the division, Moton believes if Minnesota struggles next season, it’ll be because of second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

“The Minnesota Vikings will go from one of the league’s biggest surprise playoff teams in 2024 to a disappointing squad this year,” Moton wrote. “Though head coach Kevin O’Connell has proved himself to be a quality play-caller, he can’t wave a magic wand to expedite first-year starter J.J. McCarthy’s development.

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“The 22-year-old is coming off a lost rookie year in which he needed multiple surgeries to repair a torn meniscus from last August. He has to get back into playing shape while building a rapport with his teammates.”

Darnold left big shoes for McCarthy to fill.

The former No. 3 overall pick put up career numbers, passing for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions with a passer rating of 102.5. He ranked fifth in the league in both passing yards and touchdowns, and sixth in passer rating.

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Though McCarthy had quite an impressive career at Michigan—he had a 27-1 record as UM’s starter and led the school to back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances while throwing for 6,226 yards, 49 touchdowns, 11 interceptions—he’s an unproven commodity in the NFL, and he’s coming off a major injury.

O’Connell has told reporters at every turn he’s fully confident in McCarthy’s ability to pick up where Darnold left off, but until he actually proves it, the 22-year-old signal-caller is sure to have his share of skeptics.

“McCarthy’s inexperience could cost the Vikings some games against formidable opponents,” Moton added. “… Without a complementary ground game, the QB could struggle through the first half of the season before he finds his rhythm. The Vikings will hover around .500 until McCarthy makes significant strides.”