Just in! Minnesota Vikings To Part Ways With Former Starting QB This Summer

The Minnesota Vikings believe they have the talent to contend for a Super Bowl in 2024, but they will now need to choose their starting quarterback for the upcoming campaign.

In order to choose Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Vikings moved up one slot. The Minnesota brass felt certain that McCarthy is the player who can lead the Vikings to greater success, and the team was searching for their next franchise signal caller.

When McCarthy is ready to play for the Vikings is the biggest question going into the offseason. Sam Darnold, a veteran and former third overall pick, has signed a contract with Minnesota. Right now, the consensus is that McCarthy will get his chance midway through the season, but Darnold will start.

However, according to ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, McCarthy will be prepared to go right away. Darlington stated during an appearance on ESPN’s “Get Up” with Mike Greenberg that he believes McCarthy will be prepared for the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1.

“Certainly,” Darlington responded when asked if McCarthy might start in Week 1. I’ll explain why. The fact that this man is coming into a situation with Kevin O’Connell—I spoke with O’Connell, and he has a very clear strategy in place for J.J. McCarthy—is just as important as his skill. He will be surrounded by coaches who genuinely care about ensuring he receives the right growth. If McCarthy isn’t ready, they do have Sam Darnold on hand. I simply believe that his development will proceed more quickly and he will be prepared for Week 1.

It’s unclear who will start at quarterback for the Vikings in autumn—Darnold or McCarty, for example—but Minnesota has an abundance of weapons at their disposal.

Signing standout wide receiver Justin Jefferson to a long-term contract extension is the next priority, and it should happen before the season begins. Jefferson and Jordan Addision, the swift wide receiver the Vikings selected from USC last season, will make it simpler for the quarterback to start at quarterback.

Jaren Hall, the backup quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, will depart this summer.

Now that McCarthy and Darnold are locks to make the final 53-man roster, Nick Mullins and Jaren Hall will battle for the third-string quarterback position should the Vikings decide to carry a third quarterback.

During his first season, Jaren Hall, a former fifth-round pick, started two games for Minnesota but did not finish either. In early November, Hall suffered a concussion that ended his first start against the Atlanta Falcons. In Week 17, after just 10 pass attempts against the Green Bay Packers, head coach Kevin O’Connell benched Hall in favor of Nick Mullens due to subpar play.

on Thursday, May 2, published his projections for the team’s 53-man roster, and Hall was the odd man out in the quarterback room. Lewis further predicted Darnold to start the year under center, with McCarthy and Mullens behind him on the depth chart.

The Vikings do not want to rush McCarthy’s development. Michigan’s offensive system contains some of the same concepts as head coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense. McCarthy also has experience playing under center. Still, Minnesota wants to treat this like a big-league baseball team would with a top prospect. Until all of the Vikings’ decision-makers are convinced McCarthy is ready, it does not make sense to throw him into the fire.

his is contingent both on Darnold’s performance and the team’s willingness to turn to Mullens if Darnold struggles or suffers an injury. Team leaders hope neither happens, but they have to plan for the worst-case scenario.

Seemingly the only path to some other fate, other than the Minnesota Vikings cutting him and the QB finding employment elsewhere, is for Hall to establish himself as a potentially starting-caliber player in training camp.

As of now, he feels like the odd man out and will likely be cut after training camp.