J.J. McCarthy, Sam Darnold QB1 Battle Discussed by Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell

Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell believes Sam Darnold is ready to be their starting quarterback—even if he knows it's only for a stopgap year.

"I think Sam just wants to take advantage of what he feels is a pretty great opportunity," O'Connell said, per Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune.

Darnold has been taking the majority of the first-team snaps all offseason, so his winning the job over rookie J.J. McCarthy seems like a foregone conclusion. McCarthy was the team's first-round pick out of Michigan but was always seen as a project.

"I also don't want J.J. to feel like he's got any kind of preset ceiling or floor to where he's at," O'Connell said. "That's the excitement that I know he feels showing up to go to work every day."

Darnold, a 2018 first-round pick, would be getting his third opportunity as a starting quarterback. He previously spent three years as the New York Jets' starter before starting 17 games in two seasons with the Carolina Panthers. Both experiments were nothing short of failures, with Darnold ranking among the worst starting quarterbacks in the NFL in each of his first five seasons.

The San Francisco 49ers signed Darnold to serve as the backup behind Brock Purdy last season, rejuvenating his value in the process. Darnold threw for 298 yards and two touchdowns against one interception during his lone season with the 49ers.

The Vikings will have to expect a downgrade at the quarterback spot after Kirk Cousins exited the franchise this offseason. Cousins was in the midst of his best NFL season before suffering a torn Achilles midway through the 2023 campaign. The Vikings allowed Cousins to leave for the Atlanta Falcons in free agency, in part because they planned to draft a long-term answer under center.

While McCarthy will eventually get his time in the spotlight, he's just 21 years old and was never a focal point in the Michigan offense in college. It will be far better for him to sit for now and develop the mental side before being thrust into the lineup.

Darnold, meanwhile, will either be getting his final shot as an NFL starter or finally match his production to his talent. He'll certainly have the weapons to make it happen with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison at receiver and T.J. Hockenson manning the tight end spot.

Given O'Connell's seeming faith in Darnold, it's looking like a promising start.