Vikings' Kevin O'Connell Won't Confirm J.J. McCarthy as QB1 Following Sam Howell Trade

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell offered the following response when asked whether Sam Howell, who the Vikes acquired in a draft day trade with the Seattle Seahawks, was in competition with J.J. McCarthy for the QB1 role during an interview on The Rich Eisen Show (2:10 mark).

In essence, O'Connell said they are in a time where defensive players can't even line up against offensive players due to league rules, so right now this is more of a "learning" and "teaching phase," where "growth and development" can happen at this time.

He added that "J.J. will be in a great position to assume and ascend in our organization."

"Right now, we really don’t have any feelings on competition as much as we’ve got an obligation as coaches to put our players in position to attack that competition phase," the coach said. "Sam [Howell] will be a part of it."

Reading between the tea leaves, one can surmise that McCarthy, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, is obviously the leader in the clubhouse right now to start. But the team clearly and carefully isn't anointing him QB1 right now.

He missed all of 2024 with a torn meniscus suffered in the preseason, and the team is most concerned about coaching him up at this juncture and following the plans of a detailed offseason, ramping up to training camp.

Ultimately, it would be a shock to see anyone but McCarthy start Week 1. As of now, though, there's no officially announced QB1 as of yet.