The Minnesota Vikings' decision to draft J.J. McCarthy 10th overall in 2024 was bold, but six starts into his rookie season, the move looks more like a gamble gone wrong. Fans and analysts alike are now left wondering: How much longer will the Vikings stick with McCarthy as their starting quarterback? And here’s where it gets even more intriguing: Daniel Jones, who could have stayed in Minnesota, chose the Colts instead, reportedly because he believed Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell would work his magic with McCarthy. But so far, there’s been nothing magical about McCarthy’s performance.
On Sunday, in a game against the Packers, McCarthy’s struggles were on full display. Just days after he optimistically compared himself to a ‘cork about to come off a bottle,’ the bottle seemed to shatter instead. He completed only 12 of 19 passes for a mere 87 yards, threw two interceptions, and matched an unwanted record held by Christian Ponder—the only Vikings quarterbacks in the past 30 years to throw interceptions in three straight games. To put it bluntly, McCarthy’s performance has been more fizzle than pop.
But this is the part most people miss: McCarthy’s issues aren’t just about stats. In the second half of Sunday’s game, the Vikings gained a staggering four yards on 15 plays. That’s not just bad—it’s historically bad. And when it comes to deeper throws, McCarthy’s struggles are even more pronounced. According to ESPN Research, he completed just two of five passes that went 10 or more yards past the line of scrimmage, with both incompletions resulting in interceptions.
Here’s the controversial question: Is it time for the Vikings to bench McCarthy and give undrafted rookie Max Brosmer a shot? The Vikings reportedly love Brosmer, but they’ve yet to see him in real game action. With a seventh loss likely ending Minnesota’s postseason hopes, why not treat the rest of 2025 as an extended preseason for 2026? Only dysfunctional teams double down on obvious mistakes, and at this point, drafting McCarthy—especially after passing on Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, and reportedly rebuffing Aaron Rodgers—feels like a mistake the Vikings can’t afford to compound.
That doesn’t mean McCarthy should be cut. He’s under contract for two more years at a relatively low cost, and he can continue to develop. But right now, starting him isn’t helping anyone. He seems to be overthinking, trying too hard, and the more things go wrong, the worse it gets. Is it time to let him reset, or is the Vikings’ front office stuck in a sunk-cost fallacy?
Taking a step back worked for Bryce Young. It could work for McCarthy too. But one thing is clear: pushing forward with him as the unquestioned starter is only setting the franchise back. So, what do you think? Should the Vikings give Brosmer a chance, or is it too early to give up on McCarthy? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments—this debate is far from over.
