The Minnesota Vikings and quarterback J.J. McCarthy have agreed to a four-year rookie contract worth $21.8 million, with a signing bonus of $12.7 million, as reported on May 13, 2024.
McCarthy, who was selected as the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, will have an average annual value of $5.4 million on his deal. The Vikings will have the option to pick up a fifth-year on McCarthy’s contract if he meets expectations.
#Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy is expected to sign a 4-yr / $21M rookie contract deal per @Charley_Walters.
“McCarthy, who just turned 21, can expect a 4-year contract worth nearly $23 million.”
📸: @UoM_GoBlue pic.twitter.com/UyHCvnndnr
— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) May 12, 2024
J.J. McCarthy May Spend First Season of Rookie Deal on Vikings’ Sideline
J.J. McCarthy has officially started his NFL journey, participating in the Vikings’ rookie minicamp over the weekend. However, it’s likely that he won’t be taking the reins as the starting quarterback until at least the second year of his contract.
The Vikings have made it clear that they plan to take a cautious approach with McCarthy’s development, with head coach Kevin O’Connell setting specific benchmarks for him to reach before being considered for the starting role. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah emphasized that the team’s priority is to ensure McCarthy’s long-term success, rather than rushing him into action and potentially hindering his growth.
Adofo-Mensah stated that the team wants to avoid contributing to the common pitfalls that can derail a quarterback’s career. Instead, they’re committed to providing McCarthy with the best possible environment to thrive in their offense.
In the meantime, Sam Darnold, a former No. 3 overall pick and recent backup for the NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers, will lead the offense. The Vikings have signed Darnold to a one-year deal worth $10 million for the 2024 season.
New Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy Among Most Accurate Passers in College Football Last Season
When J.J. McCarthy does take the field for the Vikings, which is likely to happen sooner rather than later given the significant resources the organization has invested in him this offseason, he will bring a championship pedigree to the team.
In January, McCarthy led the University of Michigan to victory in the College Football Playoff National Championship, defeating the Washington Huskies and their quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., who was selected 8th overall by the Atlanta Falcons in last month’s NFL Draft.
While Michigan and then-head coach Jim Harbaugh didn’t rely on McCarthy to air the ball out as frequently as some of the other quarterbacks who were drafted in the early rounds, he still managed to finish the year as one of the most accurate passers in the FBS. McCarthy completed 72.3% of his passes for 2,991 yards, 22 touchdowns, and just 4 interceptions, according to Football Reference.
Over the weekend, McCarthy expressed his comfort with the Vikings’ offense and the team in general, which is a positive sign for Minnesota’s future under center. He told reporters on Friday, May 10th, “It didn’t feel like my first day. I’ve been going over the offense for a long time now. So being able to [be] out there and perform and execute, that’s new, but it was nothing that was overwhelming or too much.”
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