The Minnesota Vikings knew what they had in Justin Jefferson, making him the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver the same offseason they let go of Kirk Cousins.
The move was made in tandem with maximizing a first-round quarterback prospect, which proved to be J.J. McCarthy.
But after two seasons, McCarthy is behind where the Vikings hoped he’d be. The Vikings splurged in free agency last offseason, fortifying a ready-to-win roster with $300 million in new contracts with the expectation of a return to the postseason in Minnesota.
However, this week, the Vikings, finishing 9-8, cleaned out their lockers and will watch the playoffs from home as uncertainty at quarterback lingers throughout the franchise.
After missing his entire rookie year with a meniscus injury, McCarthy suffered three different injuries that held him out of seven games this season. The 22-year-old needs more time on task, throwing more interceptions (11) than touchdowns (10) while playing in just 10 games this season.
But time is fleeting in Minnesota, especially with Jefferson in the peak of his prime and just eeking out over 1,000 yards in a down year.
The Athletic’s Alec Lewis appraised the uneasy quarterback situation facing the Vikings this offseason and cautioned the team that another lost season due to quarterback deficiencies could prove costly.
Vikings Facing Massive QB Decision That Could Impact Justin Jefferson’s Outlook
After averaging an NFL record 96.5 yards receiving per game through his first five seasons, Jefferson tallied just a 61.6-yard average this season. That was a product of McCarthy missing significant time early in the season and having no capable backup behind the young quarterback.
The Vikings are expected to be aggressive in building a better quarterback room that could put McCarthy’s role next season into question — the necessary evil of avoiding alienating Jefferson.
“Expecting Jefferson to accept another season like this one with such offensive ineptitude would be ill-advised. This is, in part, what makes the forthcoming quarterback decisions massive,” Lewis wrote.
Every instance Jefferson showed frustration on the field this season was fodder for the media to fuel trade rumors. While that is just daily talk-show smoke, the Vikings are faced with the dilemma of wasting Jefferson’s prime if they cannot figure out the quarterback situation.
“Minnesota cannot afford another hopeful quarterback situation that produces similar results. O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah needing to win a playoff game in their fifth season at the helm is one thing. Jefferson, a fierce competitor, will be entering his seventh season with only two wild-card appearances and zero postseason victories,” Lewis added.
JJ McCarthy’s Future Hinges on Vikings QB Search
Getty(Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
The Athletic’s Diana Russini reported last week that the Vikings have “plans to explore established options via trade or free agency to strengthen its quarterback room.”
Corroborating Russini’s report, Lewis added that “little is off the table in terms of how aggressive the Vikings will be, according to multiple team and league sources.”
McCarthy’s future is in question. If the Vikings find an established starting quarterback — a tier like Mac Jones, Kyler Murray or Tua Tagovailoa — it would be hard to deny them the job outright over McCarthy, who is still in his infancy when it comes to quarterbacking in the NFL.
Stashing McCarthy as a backup for more than a year would not benefit him either, making the possibility of his departure by trade reasonable as well.
“McCarthy’s role will hinge on what else is available, as well as his offseason growth in the relevant physical, mental and emotional areas that he himself cited Sunday evening,” Lewis added.
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