"The second part drove the Vikings' team-building plan for this season, when they tapped J.J. McCarthy to take over the position and then assembled the NFL's third-oldest roster with a cash payroll of nearly $350 million to support his development in real time. It made sense. The No. 10 pick was the youngest member of the 2024 quarterback draft class, with by far the fewest college passing attempts and less of the transcendent physical traits that some of the others possessed."
"After he missed his rookie season because of a torn meniscus in his right knee, McCarthy couldn't be counted on to elevate the team as the Washington Commanders' Jayden Daniels and the New England Patriots' Drake Maye have. To succeed in 2025, the Vikings would need to win with McCarthy -- sometimes in spite of him and occasionally because of him."
"They needed to assess the skills of each player, of course, but they also wanted to project the type of team to build around the player they ultimately acquired. "What people don't understand about the quarterback-selection process is that it's not just the quarterback themselves," coach Kevin O'Connell told ESPN at the time. "It's: 'What does the rest of the picture look like with that quarterback?'""
Vikings prioritized projecting the team that would surround their 2024 quarterback selection, focusing on fit as well as player skills. They selected J.J. McCarthy at No. 10 despite his relative youth, limited college passing attempts and fewer transcendent physical traits. McCarthy missed his rookie season with a torn right-knee meniscus, delaying his on-field impact. Minnesota assembled the NFL's third-oldest roster and committed a nearly $350 million cash payroll to support McCarthy's development. Comparisons to contemporaries Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye underscored differing rookie trajectories. The Vikings needed to find ways to win both despite and because of McCarthy, producing a 4-4 start.
Read at ESPN.com
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