The Minnesota Vikings are in need of a new starting quarterback this offseason after the departure of previous starter Kirk Cousins this offseason. After the team selected former Michigan Wolverines star J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick in the NFL Draft, many assumed he would be the team’s starter this season. But it sounds like that may not be the case, after all.
During a press conference on Wednesday evening, Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell revealed that the team has decided to name Sam Darnold – not J.J. McCarthy – the top quarterback heading into fall camp.
“I would say Sam would be the guy I would look to based on the spring he’s had and, really, where he’s at in his career and his quarterback journey,” O’Connell said according to Pro Football Talk.
Obviously, this doesn’t mean that McCarthy can’t still win the job before the start of the upcoming season, but it does mean that as of now, the team feels more comfortable with Darnold as the starting quarterback over the rookie.
A lot can change between now and the start of the season, but clearly Darnold will have the first chance to earn the job in the spring over McCarthy.
