Vikings Reveal Surprising QB Depth Chart Heading Into Training Camp

McCarthy Needs To Earn QB1

There is a lot of hype for this season's rookie QB class, as there is every season in the NFL, and one of those names is Minnesota Vikings rookie signal-caller J.J. McCarthy. The former Michigan Wolverine was selected No. 10 overall by the Vikings, who desperately needed help at the position with veteran Kirk Cousins leaving for Atlanta.

McCarthy's coming off of a National Championship victory over the University of Washington, leading his Wolverines to a massive victory as one last hoorah before entering the NFL Draft. Like any championship-winning QB, everyone's eyes were on where he would go and how he would do against NFL competition.

Some of those questions may have been answered, at least somewhat, by Minnesota coach Kevin O'Connell announcing that veteran QB Sam Darnold would open training camp as the starting QB of the team.

Darnold's Last Chance

Darnold has been around the league now for six years, if you can believe that. It seems like just yesterday that the former USC QB was drafted third overall by the New York Jets, but that was way back in 2018. No one knows the pressure of being a high draft pick quite like Darnold, who also had the misfortune of playing in the biggest market in the country. The Jets are notorious for draft busts, and that is what he is labeled as now. He's bounced around the league over the last couple of seasons, from Carolina to San Francisco, and now with Minnesota.

If Darnold does indeed manage to secure the starting job over McCarthy to begin the season, this very well could be his last chance to prove he's more than a career journeyman talent and can play like a third-overall pick. He'll have one of the best wide receivers in the league to help him out in Justin Jefferson, but the pressure will be all over him with fans itching to see what McCarthy brings to the table.

Rookie of the Year Odds

With McCarthy opening camp as QB2, his odds of winning Rookie of the Year took a bit of a tumble, and if you wanted to bet him to win the award, now might be a good opportunity with more value. He was 10/1 just the other day but now finds himself at 13/1 after the O'Connell announcement.

I would be shocked if he sits the entire season. If he does, that means that Darnold has pulled a Geno Smith and turned his career around, and in the process have the Vikings in playoff contention. The more likely scenario is that he will come off the bench after a bad performance by Darnold, or be announced as the starter mid-season.

And let's not forget, this is just training camp. McCarthy could still start the season as QB1.

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