University of Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy is widely considered one of the top signal-callers in this year’s NFL Draft, and ESPN’s Kevin Seifert sees the perfect landing spot for him.
The Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings have a major decision to make with Kirk Cousins this offseason, and that decision could ultimately determine what the ream does on draft night.
Cousins has been under center in Minnesota since 2018, but he is slated to hit free agency this March. He will be 36 years old at the start of next season, and he is coming off of a torn Achilles. Taking those factors into consideration, it would not be surprising if the Vikings opt to let him walk.
Plus, Cousins is apparently looking for a much more expensive deal than Minnesota may be willing to pay, so he may very well be playing his football elsewhere in 2024.
Cousins’ potential departure would open the door for the Vikings to select a quarterback in the NFL Draft this spring, and Seifert envisions Minnesota taking the Wolverines star at No. 42.
McCarthy is coming off of a spectacular campaign in which he threw for 2,991 yards, 22 touchdowns and four interceptions while completing 72.3 percent of his passes. He also rushed for 202 yards and three scores. Most importantly, he helped lead Michigan to a national championship.
The 21-year-old spent three seasons at Ann Arbor, becoming the Wolverines’ full-time starter during his sophomore year. That season, he totaled 2,719 yards, 22 touchdowns and five picks while completing 64.6 percent of his throws. In addition, he compiled 306 yards and five scores on the ground.
While McCarthy may not be as highly touted as Caleb Williams, Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels, a team like the Vikings may certainly end up taking a chance on him as their quarterback of the future.
Minnesota went 7-10 this past season, largely due to injuries.
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