Vikings' J.J. McCarthy Reveals Peyton Manning's Advice Ahead of Rookie NFL Season

J.J. McCarthy has quite the ally in his corner.

The 2024 first-round pick shared advice he got from Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, with the main message being to "respect the NFL but don't over-respect it," per Kevin Seifert of ESPN.

Manning also told McCarthy to not "speed up your footwork, don't speed up your thought processes" and to simply just play his best game.

Manning is as good a mentor as McCarthy is going to find. He was the No. 1 pick in 1998 and had a difficult rookie season before embarking on an iconic career.

He won five MVPs, two Super Bowls and is widely regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks of his generation.

McCarthy was the No. 10 pick in the 2024 draft and had a 27-1 record as a starter at Michigan. His numbers through the air weren't exactly eye-popping, but his ability to steer a championship team and strong physical tools project well at the next level.

Even if he doesn't open the season under center and has to spend some time learning behind Sam Darnold, the Vikings hope McCarthy can be the long-term solution at the position and help the team return to being a threat in the NFC North.