BREAKING; JJ McCarthy drawing Matthew Stafford comparisons already? Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson says the rookie QB’s arm is the real deal — ‘It’s humming in the air.’ Could Minnesota have found its next franchise star?

The Minnesota Vikings are set to hold rookie minicamp from May 9 to 12, and according to Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune, redshirt rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy is expected to fully participate, even though he was part of the 2024 draft class.

So what can the 2025 rookie class expect from McCarthy during their few days together? For starters, he’s reportedly bulked back up to around 215 pounds and is fully recovered from the meniscus injury that ended his 2024 season.

Tight end T.J. Hockenson is already impressed. On the Green Light Podcast with Chris Long, Hockenson compared McCarthy’s arm talent to that of former teammate Matthew Stafford, calling the young QB’s throws “sick” and “humming through the air.”

“[JJ] throws a tight spiral that sneaks up on you. It’s got that zip, that juice. He’s got crazy arm talent and a great personality. I think he’s going to have a long career,” Hockenson said.

That kind of comparison bodes well for Vikings fans. Stafford, now the Rams’ starting QB, has carved out a highly successful 16-year career, nearing 60,000 passing yards and 377 touchdowns.

If McCarthy can mirror even a fraction of that success, Minnesota may have found their quarterback of the future—and his teammates already seem to believe it. Now, the next step is proving it on the field.