Vikings’ $21 Million Former 1st-Round Pick Called Critical ‘X-Factor’

The Minnesota Vikings won 14 games in 2024 and boasted one of the NFL’s best and most aggressive defenses. However, second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy looms as the biggest “X-factor” the Vikings have in their pursuit to win the NFC North in 2025.

McCarthy missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury, but the Vikings have gone out of their way to ensure, as best they can, that he has a soft landing.

The result could be the second NFC North crown under Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell.

“J.J. McCarthy is one of the biggest X-factors across the league. He sat out his rookie season because of a torn meniscus and has the pressure of taking over an offense that ranked ninth in scoring and 12th in total yards last season,” Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton wrote on July 5. “However, the Vikings have the personnel group in place to help the 22-year-old’s development.

“McCarthy just needs to avoid egregious mistakes and put the ball in the right spots for his playmakers. If he does that, the Vikings won’t see much offensive drop-off from last year and remain in contention for a division title.”

Moton pointed to the Vikings’ plethora of weapons around McCarthy, highlighted by Pro Bowlers in wide receiver Justin Jefferson, tight end T.J. Hockenson, and running back Aaron Jones.

McCarthy will also have fellow former first-round pick Jordan Addison to throw to.

J.J. McCarthy Facing Modest Expectations From Vikings

The Vikings are well aware of where McCarthy is and just how much further he needs to go, but they remain confident that he can do what they will ask of him this coming season.

“The Vikings tossed him the keys to the Ferrari,” Lewis wrote on July 2. “The directive is simple: Take what’s there; no need to be a hero. Expecting McCarthy to be perfect would be foolish. Thinking he’ll thrive on intermediate routes and anticipatory throws is fair. Most everyone who has spent meaningful time around him raves about him. How he looks will be one of the biggest stories of the NFL season.”

In addition to their weapons and a top-flight coaching staff, the Vikings were intentional about beefing up their lines this offseason. That includes signing Will Fries and Ryan Kelly in free agency and drafting Donovan Jackson with their first-round pick in 2025 on offense.

Moreover, the Vikings acquired Jordan Mason in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers to supplement Jones and take pressure off McCarthy.

Their defense should function similarly, with their stinginess and by providing short fields.

J.J. McCarthy Remains a Work in Progress

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on “SportsCenter” in June that the Vikings “believe in their three-year plan,” which includes McCarthy and eyes a Super Bowl victory. That notably coincides with the remaining three years on McCarthy’s four-year, $21.8 million contract.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported the Vikings admit McCarthy remains a work in progress.

“He looks the way they would expect him to look at this point in his developmental process, and that’s the key thing: to understand the process,” Graziano said on “NFL Live” in June. “They don’t want him to focus on the pressure he’s under. They want him to focus on the process. Is he ready to start right now? Probably not. Can he be the first weekend in September? The Vikings believe that he can.”

After letting Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones leave in free agency, and only bringing Brett Rypien, Max Brosmer, and Sam Howell to training camp behind McCarthy, the Vikings are taking a risk.