The Minnesota Vikings have been called out for their decision for moving from Sam Darnold to J.J. McCarthy at quarterback.
The Minnesota Vikings went 14-3 last season thanks in part to an explosive offense led by quarterback Sam Darnold, who enjoyed a breakout campaign. However, the Vikings allowed Darnold to walk via free agency and are turning the offense over to 2024 first-round draft pick J.
J. McCarthy.Going from Darnold to McCarthy seemed inevitable. After all, Darnold seemed like a risky bet to replicate his 2024 success, considering that he was viewed as a bust for the first six years of his career. Plus, the Vikings traded up to take McCarthy with the 10th overall pick last year.More news: Bengals Slapped With Harsh Reality Check Amid Super Bowl HopesThat doesn't mean everyone is on board with Minnesota's decision, though.Mike Sando of The Athletic recently polled executives around the NFL regarding their opinions on the NFC heading into 2025, and the Vikings were ranked eighth in the conference. One of the execs cited Minnesota's change under center as a primary reason for the drop.'You never hear of that,' the exec said, referencing the Vikings' decision to change quarterbacks after a 14-win season. 'It's absurd.'Darnold signed a three-year, $100.5 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency, a deal similar to the one Baker Mayfield inked with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year. But will Darnold be able to experience the same type of success without Justin Jefferson at his disposal?Meanwhile, McCarthy is just 22 years old and led Michigan to a national championship during his final collegiate campaign in 2023. A knee injury prevented McCarthy from playing at all during his rookie season, but now, he is ready to take the reins and has a great cast of playmakers surrounding him.More news: NFL Exec Blasts Lions, Exposes Glaring Concern for DetroitIt's not just Jefferson, either. The Vikings also have Jordan Addison and just reunited with Adam Thielen. Jalen Nailor is no slouch, either, and tight end T.J. Hockenson is one of the best his position has to offer. Plus, Minnesota's backfield tandem of Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason is downright scary.We'll see if McCarthy can find similar success to Darnold this fall.For more on the Vikings and NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.
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