According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Minnesota Vikings have come to terms with rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy on a four-year, $21.85 million contract that includes a $12.71 million signing bonus and a fifth-year team option.
McCarthy was selected by the Vikings out of Michigan with the tenth overall selection in April’s NFL Draft. When McCarthy will take over as the Vikings’ starting quarterback is still up in the air. Head Coach Kevin O’Connell has left that timetable open-ended.
“But I want to be very clear that the expectation is for this player to not be perfect,” O’Connell said. “He’s going to have growing pains; he’s going to learn on the fly. I’m not trying to remove that aspect of it, either, but [deciding when he will play] is not something you can write up on a board. It’s a feeling.”
Jan 8, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) gestures to teammates before a snap against the Washington Huskies during the third quarter in the 2024 College Football Playoff national championship game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Kevin O’Connell Says that J.J. McCarthy’s Development Won’t Be Rushed
In two seasons together in Minnesota, GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell have had decent success, compiling a 20-14 record and winning an NFC North title in 2022. Despite losing Kirk Cousins to an Achilles injury last season, they found themselves in the hunt for a playoff berth late in the season in 2023 before finishing 7-10. The Vikings are predicted to win 6-7 games this season with uncertainty under center, with Sam Darnold as the bridge between Kirk Cousins and J.J. McCarthy.
Still, O’Connell is adamant that he won’t compromise his development plan for McCarthy to pursue wins in the short term.
“It’s just more about what is in the best interest of the organization,” O’Connell said. “Those circumstances cannot affect what J.J.’s development plan is or any other player on the team for that matter. It just can’t be something that selfishly ever impacts that decision.
“That really won’t change because, and I don’t know if it’s the former quarterback in me or not, but I do feel an obligation to have the best interests of not only J.J. but our entire team, at heart, when we make that decision.”
While the Bears hand the keys to their quarterback of the future on day one, the Vikings are taking the slow roll approach with McCarthy, which could be good news for the Bears this season if they’re hoping to leapfrog Minnesota in the NFC North standings.
Source link : https://www.bleachernation.com/bears/2024/07/19/jj-mccarthy-signs-vikings/
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Publish date : 2024-07-19 12:27:59
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