The Minnesota Vikings made a big statement by deciding not to re-sign veteran QB Sam Darnold, and all signs point to them going all-in on J.J. McCarthy. The rookie was part of an insane draft class alongside Michael Penix, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, and Caleb Williams. Unlike the others, McCarthy didn’t get a chance to start right away not because he wasn’t ready, but because of an unfortunate injury.
Since then, Minnesota has had some serious doubts, even flirting with the idea of bringing in Aaron Rodgers. The ex-Packers and Jets QB is still a free agent, seemingly waiting on the Vikings to make a decision before choosing his next move. And honestly, if there was any team that could help Rodgers turn back the clock, it was Minnesota. The Vikings have the weapons and the offensive setup that made even Sam Darnold look solid. But with Minnesota officially rolling with McCarthy, it’s not just bad news for Rodgers it’s another blow for the Atlanta Falcons, too.
Kirk Cousins Would’ve Been a Safer Bet Than Rodgers
Let’s be real wherever Rodgers goes, drama seems to follow. His time in Green Bay ended with chaos, and his brief stint with the Jets was full of headlines for all the wrong reasons. That’s the last thing the Vikings need. If they wanted a veteran backup, re-signing Darnold would’ve been the simplest move.
That said, there was also a legit argument for bringing back Kirk Cousins. He only has one year of guaranteed money left on his deal, making it relatively easy to move on if things don’t work out. Plus, if Atlanta was willing to eat part of his contract, it could’ve been a win-win situation.
Cousins would’ve given McCarthy some real competition and insurance if the rookie wasn’t fully ready. And let’s not forget before his Achilles injury, Kirk was playing at an MVP level. Another year removed from that injury, he might just return to that form.
But Minnesota seems to have made up its mind. They’re betting everything on McCarthy, closing the door on any potential Cousins reunion. And for Atlanta? That’s one less team to take Cousins off their hands, making it even more likely they’re stuck with him for the long haul.
