Vikings Make Surprising Announcement on QBs J.J. McCarthy, Sam Darnold

In their final media appearance until the NFL Combine, the Minnesota Vikings brass did not show any favor to Sam Darnold or J.J. McCarthy being the starting quarterback for the 2025 season — a move that is in their best interest.

Outside of starting next season, Darnold is a valuable trade chip who could remain under team contract if the Vikings choose to franchise tag him. If they intend to tag-and-trade Darnold, they’ll want to fluff him up and drive a competitive trade market. Any inkling that Minnesota may not want to keep Darnold will be blood in the water for a trade partner.

General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell did not lean one way or another in their praise of both quarterbacks.

There are concerns that McCarthy, coming off meniscus surgery and visibly thinner from months off of training, is ready to take the starting reins.

However, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah left an impression of their internal evaluation of McCarthy just months after drafting him, suggesting McCarthy was pushing Darnold for the starting job down the final stretch of training camp.

“Again, we don’t know what was going to happen at the finish of training camp,” Adofo-Mensah said January 16, referring to the quarterback camp battle before McCarthy’s injury.

Adofo-Mensah’s leaving the competition open last summer bodes well for McCarthy, who impressed with his mental development over the season and is expected to return to his physical prime.