Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell recently shared his thoughts with Adam Schein of SiriusXM’s “Mad Dog Sports Radio” on the quarterback competition between veteran Sam Darnold and rookie J.J. McCarthy. O’Connell suggested that Darnold has a significant edge over McCarthy, indicating the competition may already be decided in favor of the veteran.
Sam Darnold, the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, struggled to establish himself as a franchise quarterback with the New York Jets and the Carolina Panthers. However, his performance as a backup for the San Francisco 49ers last season earned him positive reviews. This led to Darnold signing a one-year, $10 million deal with the Vikings in March. Shortly after, the Vikings moved up a spot in the draft to select McCarthy.
Analysts like Kevin Seifert of ESPN and Alec Lewis of The Athletic have noted that Darnold appears to be on track to start the Vikings’ regular-season opener against the New York Giants on September 8. O’Connell emphasized that the team has been careful not to put undue pressure on McCarthy, a strategy learned by new quarterbacks coach Josh McCown from his experience with Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young last year.
In May, McCown highlighted the importance of creating a supportive environment for rookie quarterbacks. He stressed that the goal is to build the best possible conditions, coach at a high level, and ensure players understand daily expectations, allowing them to compete and play their best football. O’Connell echoed this sentiment, noting that while the quarterbacks will compete daily during training camp and preseason, the starting job seems to be Darnold’s to lose.
In a related matter, there have been concerns about J.J. McCarthy potentially holding out due to contract negotiations. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick, has yet to sign his rookie contract with the Vikings, leading to speculation on social media about a possible holdout.
The issue at hand is McCarthy’s signing bonus. While his four-year, $21.9 million deal is fully guaranteed based on his draft position, the payment schedule of the signing bonus remains negotiable. Former NFL agent and CBS Sports writer Joel Correy explained that the main points of negotiation for rookie contracts at the top of the draft are the payment schedule of the signing bonus and salary guarantee offsets. Language around the voiding of salary guarantees is also a key factor.
In recent years, first-round quarterbacks have increasingly received their signing bonuses in full upfront rather than spread out over the duration of their contracts. This shift likely underpins the current negotiations between McCarthy’s representatives and the Vikings. Correy noted that quarterbacks such as Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, and Trey Lance received their signing bonuses in lump sums soon after signing their contracts.
Despite the ongoing negotiations, McCarthy has been practicing under the league’s “rookie participation agreement,” which ensures he would receive the same contract if he were healthy. Nevertheless, finalizing the terms of his contract remains a priority.
The Vikings are navigating this situation carefully, as they haven’t needed to offer such a large upfront cash payment since drafting a first-round rookie quarterback in 2014. Additionally, McCarthy is the first quarterback the franchise has selected within the top 10. Fellow first-round pick Dallas Turner is also yet to sign his contract, making McCarthy and Turner the only unsigned rookies as training camp approaches on July 27.
The Vikings’ recent significant contract with Justin Jefferson might also play a role in their cautious approach to McCarthy’s demands. However, it is expected that both McCarthy and Turner will finalize their contracts soon, avoiding any major conflicts before the season begins.
