The Minnesota Vikings will – and indeed do have high expectations coming into 2025 after a 14-3 season that ended with a miserable defeat to the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card Round.
And unlike other high-achieving teams, like the Philadelphia Eagles, the Vikings did not take any significant steps back in their roster composition. Except for perhaps at corner, where the team will have to rely on the youth of Mekhi Blackmon and Isaiah Rodgers.
But corner is not the biggest nail-biting concern for the team, according to CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin. Benjamin believes that the team’s biggest “red flag” is lack of certainty at the quarterback position, where second year pro, JJ McCarthy, is set to take the starting reins for the very first time in the NFL.
“It’s rare you find a team so equipped for a deep playoff run yet without so much as a morsel of certainty under center.” Benjamin wrote on Wednesday, “J.J. McCarthy may have the full support of a winning staff led by Kevin O’Connell, whose chief strength besides perpetual “Minnesota Nice” optimism is maximizing his quarterbacks, but he’s still a 22-year-old with zero real NFL snaps under his belt.
Facing not only a difficult schedule but inflated expectations from fans who watched Sam Darnold win 14 games a year ago, he’s at least got the weapons and staff to aid his debut.”
JJ McCarthy The Number 1 Cause For Questions Ahead Of Week 1
No one knows exactly how the former National Champion will look come Week 1.
Indeed, there are many conflicting pieces of evidence concerning his projection for 2025. On the one hand, he reportedly struggled during training camp. Yet the team were still happy with his progress over the course of the offseason, given that they reportedly threw a lot his way over the course of OTAs and mandatory minicamp in May and June.
And then there is the 2024 pre-season, where McCarthy impressed both fans and media with his poised displays. The meniscus tear suffered prior to the start of the season will not have helped his development, but given his age – he just turned 22 in January – that injury should not affect his ability in the long run.
Are There Any Other Concerns For The Vikings Offense?
The most pressing potential issue arising in Minnesota on offense will likely be at running back. Whilst Aaron Jones had a Pro Bowl-caliber year in 2024 (despite not being selected), there do not happen to be a litany of options behind him.
Immediate backup, Jordan Mason, started for most of the season in 2024 in lieu of the injured Christian McCaffrey back in San Francisco. And whilst he performed admirably, the 49ers are widely regarded as one of the – if not the – most running back-friendly offenses in the league.
And if there is an injury to Mason or Jones, neither Ty Chandler, nor fourth choice, Zavier Scott, has much experience taking on a significant load of the run game.
