The Minnesota Vikings appear to believe in J.J. McCarthy from the top of the organization on down, but it's impossible to know everything -- and perhaps some of the most important things -- about a quarterback before he takes his first regular season NFL snap.
McCarthy, the presumed starter in Minnesota after Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones bolted in free agency this offseason, won't get that opportunity until September. However, the 22-year-old QB is getting a second chance to make a first impression on some of his most important teammates, and the reviews so far are stellar.
Most recently, two-time Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson compared catching passes from McCarthy to catching throws off the hand of Matthew Stafford, a former Super Bowl champion with 16 years and almost 60,000 yards on his NFL resumé.
"A sick arm. I remember catching passes from [Stafford], and it was one of those balls where it just zips on ya," Hockenson said, per the "Green Light with Chris Long" podcast on Monday, May 5. "It looks like it's not coming, but it's coming. And J.J.'s got the juice behind it where it kind of has that effect. ... He's got insane arm talent, and really the personality that he has goes really well, and I think he's gonna have a long career."
McCarthy never put up stellar numbers as the starter at Michigan, throwing for just shy of 3,000 yards, 22 touchdowns and four interceptions across a 15-0 championship season for the Wolverines in 2023.
However, McCarthy should get plenty of opportunities to air it out in head coach Kevin O'Connell's offense, particularly given the talent at his disposal that includes Hockenson, wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison as well as running back Aaron Jones.
