Vikings' JJ McCarthy Facing Major Pressure After Sam Darnold's Departure

With quarterback Sam Darnold signing a massive deal with the Seattle Seahawks, that leaves the Minnesota Vikings without the signal-caller who led them to the postseason. Darnold led the Vikings to a 14-3 record this past season but they fell short in the postseason.

Read more: Seahawks to Sign Sam Darnold in Blockbuster Free Agency Move

With Darnold now gone, all the pressure likely falls onto the shoulders of second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy was drafted by the Vikings with the No. 10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft but suffered an unfortunate season-ending injury during training camp.

McCarthy is assumed to take over as the starter for the Vikings and this puts a ton of pressure on his shoulders. After the strong season that Darnold just put together, the Vikings can't afford to go through too many growing pains with McCarthy.

When McCarthy was drafted, nobody expected the Vikings to be as dominant as they were this past season. But everything has changed since the last time the former Michigan Wolverine took the field.

The Vikings are very high on the upside of McCarthy and they have faith he will be able to run the offense. McCarthy is used to pressure as he helped the Wolverines win the 2023 NCAA Championship.

The signal-caller led Michigan to back-to-back appearances in the College Football Playoff, even going undefeated in 2023. But the NFL is unforgiving and McCarthy will need to prove himself all over again.

McCarthy showed some promise during the preseason last year before his injury. While playing against the Las Vegas Raiders, McCarthy put on a show, throwing for 188 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.

McCarthy has the ability to make tough throws in the pocket and his mechanics are great. Minnesota was impressed with his skill set and it earned him being a first-round draft pick.

The good news for McCarthy, assuming he is the starter, is that Minnesota is set up to help him succeed. Like with Darnold, head coach Kevin O'Connell is a quarterback whisperer.

The Vikings also have a strong offensive unit, with star wide receiver Justin Jefferson leading the charge. Minnesota also brought back running back Aaron Jones this offseason, giving the team a legitimate running attack.

Read more: Aaron Jones Re-Signing With Vikings Ahead of Free Agency

McCarthy does have a lot of pressure on him but he has the tools to be successful. The Vikings are fully locked in on going after a Super Bowl title even if their hopes all fall on the shoulders of a young quarterback.

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