The Minnesota Vikings went into night one of the 2024 NFL Draft with the quarterback position on their mind.
After losing Kirk Cousins, it was evident that the Vikings were seeking someone new at the position in the draft, even though they signed Sam Darnold earlier in the offseason.
There was speculation that the Vikings would move significant draft capital to acquire their guy, but that didn’t end up being the case.
They did trade up, but they only needed to move up one spot to draft J.J. McCarthy.
McCarthy was the quarterback that many fans hoped the team would select, given his history of winning at the collegiate level.
This was an exciting pick for the Vikings, a selection that broke a team record.
According to ESPN Bet, McCarthy is the highest-drafted quarterback in team history.
The Vikings traded up to pick-10 to make J.J. their highest drafted quarterback ever 😳 pic.twitter.com/gL9wPCuxFQ
— ESPN BET (@ESPNBet) April 26, 2024
The Vikings haven’t necessarily had the best luck drafting quarterbacks in the first round or later, but McCarthy will look to change their fortune.
He was highly-touted throughout the pre-draft process, and if his prospect profile comes to fruition on the NFL gridiron, the Vikings should be in good shape moving forward.
McCarthy will have Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson at his fingertips in his rookie season, which should help him succeed out of the gates.
Rookie quarterbacks can struggle without adequate pass-catchers, but the Vikings have no shortage of those in this offense.
Jefferson is one of the best receivers in the league, and as long as the Vikings extend him as expected, this could be a match made in heaven for all parties involved.
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Jim Harbaugh Reacts To J.J. McCarthy Being Drafted By Vikings