The Minnesota Vikings are entering a pivotal season for the franchise, with head coach Kevin O’Connell leading a well-rounded roster—this time with essentially a rookie quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, at the helm. After missing all of his actual rookie season due to injury, McCarthy is healthy again and expected to take charge in 2025.
Drafted 10th overall in April 2024, McCarthy is now stepping into the spotlight with plenty to prove. While there’s no immediate threat to his job, one NFL analyst suggests his long-term security isn’t guaranteed.
In a May 9 article for Bleacher Report, NFL analyst Brad Gagnon evaluated each team’s quarterback outlook following the 2025 draft. “With the draft over and most QB movement settled, it’s time to assess where every team stands with their signal-caller,” Gagnon wrote.
His analysis factored in age, experience, injury history, contract status, and overall team situation. The team he believes is in most urgent need of a quarterback? The Pittsburgh Steelers. And he didn’t spare criticism for teams relying heavily on aging stars like Aaron Rodgers.
As for the Vikings, Gagnon placed them “somewhere in between” on the QB-needs scale—not actively looking to replace McCarthy, but not ready to declare him their franchise guy either. “J.J. McCarthy is effectively a rookie after missing all of last season with a torn ACL,” Gagnon explained. “When you use a top-10 pick on a quarterback, he should get at least two full seasons to prove himself.”
Draft Praise: Donovan Jackson Gets Noticed
With the 2025 NFL Draft in the books, analysts are weighing in on standout picks. In a May 9 feature on ESPN, a panel of NFL insiders reviewed the most impactful draft moments.
Field Yates highlighted Minnesota’s pick of guard Donovan Jackson at No. 24, calling it one of the team’s best moves. “Jackson was 20th overall on my board,” Yates said. “I love his versatility, power, and toughness. The Vikings made it clear they wanted to rebuild the trenches this offseason—and they followed through.”
The NFL season officially kicks off Thursday, September 4, with the NFL Kickoff Game.
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