Vikings’ Justin Jefferson Needs QB J.J. McCarthy to be ‘Assured’ to Make Performs

Sam Darnold threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns, and the Minnesota Vikings stated “greatest to you and the Seattle Seahawks.” Aaron Rodgers by no means got here strolling via the door. The truth is, he went to the Pittsburgh Steelers after being launched by the New York Jets. 

Because of this, it is now J.J. McCarthy’s present in Minnesota, and Vikings celebrity broad receiver Justin Jefferson is a believer within the younger signal-caller, regardless of his inexperience.

“As his teammate and as a captain of the group, simply attempting to make him dialed in each likelihood that I can,” Jefferson stated about McCarthy in an interview with Yahoo Sports activities. “Our lockers are proper subsequent to one another, so each likelihood that I get to speak to him about soccer, about something that goes on exterior of soccer.

“Simply attempt to get to know him as a lot as I can, as a result of when the season comes and every time we’re locked in, I need him to be simply as assured as I’m of him to make the performs on the market.”

Minnesota traded up one spot to pick McCarthy with the tenth general decide within the 2024 NFL Draft. McCarthy performed three seasons at Michigan, beginning the majority of the final two (2022-23) and serving to the Wolverines win the nationwide championship in his junior season (2023). 

McCarthy’s rookie season was derailed by him struggling a torn meniscus within the 2024 preseason, which ended the quarterback’s rookie marketing campaign. Darnold then grew to become the Vikings’ official beginning quarterback, serving to cause them to a 14-3 season earlier than dropping to the Los Angeles Rams within the NFC wild-card spherical.

In his last season at Michigan, McCarthy, who at all times offered a risk along with his legs, totaled 2,991 passing yards, 22 passing touchdowns, 4 interceptions and a Massive Ten-high 167.4 passer score, whereas finishing a conference-high 72.3% of his passes in a run-happy offensive scheme.

As for Jefferson, the two-time All-Professional and four-time Professional Bowler totaled 103 receptions for 1,533 yards (14.9 yards per reception) and 10 touchdowns final season. He ranked eighth amongst broad receivers with an 87.2 general grade, in keeping with Professional Soccer Focus.

McCarthy inherits a stacked Minnesota offense that features the aforementioned Jefferson, budding broad receiver Jordan Addison — who has averaged 66.5 receptions for 893.0 yards and 9.5 touchdowns per season over his first two NFL seasons — tight finish and two-time Professional Bowler T.J. Hockenson and working again Aaron Jones, who rushed for a career-high 1,138 yards, whereas tallying 408 receiving yards final season, amongst others.

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