The Minnesota Vikings made a bold move in the offseason by opting not to re-sign veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, signaling a new direction for the team at the quarterback position. This decision left fans speculating about who would take over the reins under center for the upcoming season.

To address this gap, the Vikings signed Sam Darnold to a one-year, $10 million contract in free agency. However, it was clear that this move alone wouldn’t satisfy the team’s quarterback needs for the 2024 season. This led to the Vikings using one of their two first-round picks on former Michigan QB JJ McCarthy, a decision that raised some eyebrows given McCarthy’s performance at Michigan.

Despite leading Michigan to a national title, McCarthy’s individual stats didn’t exactly stand out. Nevertheless, head coach Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings’ front office were convinced that McCarthy was the best choice for them in the first round of the draft.

Fast forward to spring and mandatory minicamps, and it seems that McCarthy has some catching up to do in the race for the starting quarterback position. ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reported that McCarthy is currently “squarely behind” Darnold on the depth chart, with Darnold taking “nearly all of the first-team reps,” while McCarthy has been getting reps after Nick Mullens.

Can the rookie QB turn the tide for the Vikings?

This situation has raised some concerns among Vikings fans, and it’s something that Green Bay Packers fans are likely finding quite amusing. Neither Darnold nor McCarthy seem to strike fear into the hearts of defenders, and McCarthy has also been struggling with accuracy, despite having “plenty of juice” in his throws.

The showdown between the Packers and the Vikings won’t happen until Week 4 on Sept. 29, but it’s clear that the quarterback situation in Minnesota is still up in the air. As a result, Packers fans can sit back and feel confident in their franchise quarterback, while Vikings fans may have some doubts about whether they made the right choice in the draft.

In conclusion, the Vikings’ quarterback situation is still unfolding, and all eyes will be on how McCarthy and Darnold perform in the lead-up to the season. This uncertainty adds an extra layer of intrigue to the upcoming matchups between the Packers and the Vikings.