Why JJ McCarthy must become Vikings’ franchise QB after Justin Jefferson’s monster contract

After seeing Jaylen Waddle’s latest extension with the Miami Dolphins for three years, $84.75 million, the Vikings became much more proactive in signing their prized wide receiver, knowing the price tag was only going to keep going up with other wideouts still awaiting their new deals.

Since 2021, Jefferson has been one of the most productive receivers in the entire league. He’s top 10 in every notable receiving category. But for a while, chances were growing dim that the former All-Pro was going to be staying in Minnesota.

Part of that was perhaps on Jefferson himself, who reportedly declined a couple of offers that the Vikings presented him. But it may not have all been about money. Some of it may have had to do with the quarterback situation in Minnesota.

Going into last season for the Vikings, it was going to be their last with Kirk Cousins at quarterback, even before he went down with an Achilles injury midway through the season. So, Jefferson was likely looking for some sort of stability at the position before he committed.

After apparently failing in their attempts to move up higher in the 2024 NFL Draft, they at least found a trade partner in the New York Jets, moving up from 12 to 10 to select Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy with their first-round choice.

But if Jefferson was the final piece of this offseason to be signed, McCarthy is the final piece to prove his worth and make this Vikings team competitive.

Vikings need to have found their franchise quarterback in JJ McCarthy

Whether or not the money was the final selling point — $110 million should be — Jefferson perhaps at least admires the efforts the team is putting in place to build a winner in Minnesota. The Vikings have made some significant moves this offseason that very well could make them dark horses this season and even favorites in the NFC if all pans out in the future.

Jefferson now completes an impressive skill position group for the offense. They now have not only Jefferson at receiver but last year’s first-round draft pick in Jordan Addison. There’s also tight end TJ Hockenson and one of this year’s big free-agent pickups, running back Aaron Jones. Even accounting for Hockenson’s injury from last season and Jones’ age (29) and one-year rental, this is one of the better offensive units in the NFL.

But what about that quarterback?

Yeah, that’s where things get interesting for head coach Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings. Again, this team is more or less ready to compete now if they have some sort of level of competency at the quarterback position. They even have the defense to do so.

Though they may have lost one of last year’s talented pass rushers in Danielle Hunter, the Vikings essentially just flip-flopped with the Houston Texans by adding Jonathan Greenard, plus their other first-round pick Dallas Turner out of Alabama. That’s not to forget linebacker Blake Cashman and former Dolphins pass rusher Andrew Van Ginkel.

But again — what about the quarterback?

JJ McCarthy’s draft pick could determine Kevin O’Connell’s future

Okay, yeah, this has to be addressed. So, before the Vikings even selected McCarthy with their first-round pick, they added Sam Darnold out of free agency. Darnold is a serviceable veteran quarterback, who under O’Connell can likely do pretty well. But this really all boils down to McCarthy.

Darnold is nothing but another rental, a gap starter until they believe McCarthy is ready to take the reins. O’Connell and the rest of this team need him to be ready as soon as possible.

Granted, luckily for the Vikings, McCarthy will be on his rookie deal all the way through Jefferson’s deal, with 2028 being his fifth-year option. Addison is signed through 2026, while Hockenson is with the team through 2027. This more so has to do with O’Connell and his tenure with the Vikings.

Let’s assume that the Vikings miss the playoffs again, finishing no better than 7-10 again. That’s two consecutive losing seasons for O’Connell, including a bad Wild Card loss to the New York Giants in the 2022 playoffs. All that will fall back on him, justifiably or not, if the Vikings can’t prove they’ve made some sort of progress during this upcoming season.

That’s why McCarthy has to prove he’s the guy to be for the Vikings, the franchise quarterback. A playoff absence is acceptable for this year’s team only if there are some growing pains that are due from his progress. If there’s no promise in him behind center, then O’Connell’s seat may start to heat up.