NFL Exec Questions Vikings Pivoting from Darnold to J.J. McCarthy, 'Just Don't Get It'

The Minnesota Vikings let quarterback Sam Darnold walk in free agency this past offseason and replaced him with 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, but at least one NFL executive is questioning the decision.

Speaking to Mike Sando of The Athletic, an anonymous league executive said, "I thought it was absolutely crazy what they did, and I thought it was crazy when they did it. To take a quarterback [Darnold] who won that many games and to go to J.J. McCarthy, who you don't know can play, I just don't get it."

Before the 2024 season, the Vikings lost their longtime starting quarterback, Kirk Cousins, to the Atlanta Falcons in free agency, prompting them to pivot by signing Darnold and using the No. 10 overall pick on McCarthy.

It was expected that McCarthy and Darnold would compete for the starting job during training camp and throughout the preseason, but when McCarthy suffered a knee injury that required season-ending surgery, Darnold became the unquestioned starter.

Originally selected No. 3 overall in the 2018 NFL draft by the New York Jets, Darnold was widely considered a bust prior to last season.

He went 13-25 as the Jets' starter over three seasons, throwing 45 touchdowns to 39 interceptions, before going 8-9 in two seasons with the Carolina Panthers, and throwing 16 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

After serving as the San Francisco 49ers' backup for one season, the Vikes took a chance on Darnold by signing him to a one-year deal, and it paid huge dividends.

Darnold had a breakout season in 2024, completing 66.2 percent of his passes for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions en route to a 14-3 record and his first career Pro Bowl selection.

The season ended in disappointment, though, as Darnold struggled in an NFC Wild Card Round playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams, going 25-of-40 for 245 yards, one touchdown and one pick, while getting sacked nine times and losing a fumble.

It is fair to wonder if that one game heavily influenced the Vikings' decision, as they allowed Darnold to sign a three-year, $100.5 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency, and committed to McCarthy as their starter.

The 28-year-old Darnold is off to an excellent start in Seattle, leading the Seahawks to a 3-1 record, while completing 70.0 percent of his passing attempts for 905 yards, five touchdowns and two picks.

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Meanwhile, McCarthy provided mixed results in the first two starts of his career, going 1-1, and completing 58.5 percent of his passes for 301 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions, while also rushing for 50 yards and a score.

McCarthy has missed the Vikings' past two games with an ankle injury, pressing veteran backup Carson Wentz into action. The Vikings have gone 1-1 with Wentz as the starter, giving them a 2-2 record on the year.

It is fair to wonder if the Vikings would be better off right now with Darnold as their starter, but McCarthy is still just 22 years old, and it is impossible to make a definitive call on his legitimacy as a starting NFL quarterback after only two games.