Journeyman quarterback Sam Darnold surprised virtually everyone in 2024 when he had his first Pro Bowl season, throwing for over 4,300 yards and 35 touchdowns, and leading the Minnesota Vikings to a 14-3 record in the process. However, Darnold has now taken his talents to the Seattle Seahawks, leaving second-year QB JJ McCarthy as the guy in Minnesota.
McCarthy’s rookie season — if you could even call it that — was one to forget. After being drafted by the Vikings out of Michigan with the 10th pick of the 1st round that year, McCarthy reported soreness in his knee after the team’s first preseason outing. This soreness wound up being a torn meniscus, which required surgery to repair and force McCarthy out for the entirety of 2024.
