Despite frustrating inconsistencies, J.J. McCarthy flashes elite big-time throws and clutch fourth-quarter magic, sparking debate for the Vikings' future.
The Minnesota Vikings (9-8) have one of the more complex quarterback situations in the NFL. It's complex because while their first-year starter struggled, he did show promise. He showed enough promise that there is a conversation.
Maligned Minnesota quarterback J.J. McCarthy was known for his lowlights in 2025, but it was not all bad for the Vikings quarterback in his debut season. In fact, at times he flashed enough promise that he commanded a contingent of Vikings supporters that stood with him despite his struggles.
One NFL analyst discussed what makes McCarthy so polarizing now that we have reached the 2026 offseason. John Kosko of Pro Football Focus ranked teams based on need for an upgrade at quarterback. Surprisingly, Kosko ranks the Vikings at No. 10 behind the Atlanta Falcons and starting quarterback Michael Penix.
Kosko explained why he has the Vikings quarterback situation not as dire as the first nine franchises on his list.
"If the sample size for Penix is small, it’s even smaller for J.J. McCarthy, who has just 310 career dropbacks. While no quarterback was memed more in 2025, only one passer — Matthew Stafford — posted a higher big-time throw rate than McCarthy. Early returns suggest a Jameis Winston–type profile, but with McCarthy essentially entering his second season as a rookie, the Vikings simply need to see more before making any long-term decision."
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) stiff-arms Green Bay Packers linebacker Ty'Ron Hopper (59) after a seven yard run during the first quarter of their game. Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesWhile Kosko suggests a Jameis Winston caliber career, even that feels generous for a quarterback that drew JaMarcus Russell comparisons earlier in the year. The comparisons were backed up statistically.
Where people get hung up on McCarthy is his ability to elevate in the clutch which we saw happen time and again this year. Routinely the young signal caller would struggle for three quarters and turn it on in the fourth. That may be the norm for quarterbacks in the league as defenses shift to a more conservative style of defense in the fourth quarter, but it does not erase McCarthy's penchant for finishing games strong.
The issue with McCarthy is the three quarters prior where he had a tendency to struggle. It was that inconsistency that led to the Vikings' fall from 14-3 a season ago to a 4-8 start to the 2025 season.
True to form, McCarthy performed well in the fourth quarter of the season, just as he did in the final quarter of games. His improvement helped the Vikings finish the season on a five-game winning streak.
Will McCarthy continue to improve? That's the question the Vikings need to answer as they plan to build their roster for next season.