Vikings hope J.J. McCarthy is last piece of roster puzzle

Egan, Minnesota — The Minnesota Vikings completed their major offseason goals during the NFL Draft last weekend.

Now they are moving on to the task of allowing him to thrive in it.

McCarthy came out of The Shadows this week and spoke to Minnesota reporters for the first time in 235 days. “I’m here,” McCarthy said after the team traded three of the five starting offensive linemen and committed an NFL high $315 million to the 2025 roster and $335 million NFL high as part of a massive swing through free agency.

For those who won the national championship against Michigan and was the 10th pick in the 2024 draft, McCarthy was primarily a mystery in Minnesota. He tore the meniscus with his right knee in the Vikings’ preseason opening game 18 days after his first training camp, and moved to months of recovery in November, including a second surgery, to deal with the swelling.

Meanwhile, McCarthy attended meetings, met weekly with Coach Kevin O’Connell and traveled with the team later in the season. But of course, injured players remain in the background until they become healthy.

However, when McCarthy strengthened his activity in the first six days of the team’s offseason program, players got a glimpse of what they encountered behind the scenes. Above all, they described the energetic, edgy, competitive personality from the quarterbacks who are under 11 of the 13 quarterbacks drafted last weekend.

Veteran safe Harrison Smith was the longest-adored player on the roster when he entered his 14th season, spending time with McCarthy in Mexico at an NFL Players Association event.

“He’s a guy who enjoys having a lot of me,” Smith said. “He is his own person, he speaks his mind. He has a way of thinking about his own things. He is very smart, very invested in football, winning and competing. … I enjoy his time with him. He is an interesting companion and a little clever beyond his age.”

Meanwhile, a one-day visit to the team facility in March gave a clear impression on new center Ryan Kelly.

“He’s on fire,” Kelly said. “He has some things for him. He has the energy you want as a quarterback and as a young man who missed out on his entire rookie season. I think you need that edge.

Kelly represents a significant portion of the coco built by the Vikings. He noted that he spent most of his career at the Indianapolis Colts “in charge of running games, passing games and all electric viewing.” [but] You may not be able to see everything right away. ”

Kelly was caught between right guards by his former Indianapolis teammate Willfly and signed a five-year contract worth $88 million in free agency. The left guard could be Donovan Jackson, the Vikings’ first round draft pick last week.

That is, McCarthy will open up his first season as the NFL starter behind the offensive line, which will pay up to $81.2 million this season, according to the roster management system. It includes three previous first-round picks by Kelly, Jackson and left tackle Christian Darrisaw, as well as one second round pick (right tackle Brian O’Neill). The Kansas City Chief carries the NFL’s second most expensive offensive line for $72 million.

“I think we have to take away the idea of ​​trying to get a lot out of the new quarterback plate,” O’Neill said. “How do we play as the offensive line as as cohesive as possible? If I haven’t put out my fire, I can’t worry about his fire. The best thing I can do for him is to give him a clean pocket every time.”

The Vikings line is accused of protecting starter Sam Darnold, who took the league’s ninth sack (49) and McCarthy more than 2024. But equally important, after last season’s security guards and centers were all ranked in the bottom 10th in run-block win percentage last season, the Vikings hope to trigger a more productive run game, especially in red zone and goal situations.

To further strengthen the running game around McCarthy, the Vikings not only re-signed veteran Aaron Jones ($10 million in 2025), but also acquired veteran backup Jordan Mason (for the 2026 six-round pick) and signed a two-year deal that paid $5.5 million. In all, the Vikings have won $19.3 million in cash in the running back position this season, making him third in the NFL behind the San Francisco 49ers ($24.1 million) and the Philadelphia Eagles ($21.3 million).

Since O’Connell arrived in 2022, the Vikings have been a pass-first team. During that period, the NFL has a fifth dropback (2,063) and a fifth Fawastrash attempt (1,254). It’s not a formula. O’Connell seems willing to keep it at first grade quarterback.

“It’s exciting to draw a route on the board and come up with new ideas,” O’Connell said.

“The ability to have a collection of five guys in front of it gives us a really good feeling about what we can do now, not just this year, but beyond that.”

Drafted McCarthy in 2024, and with his rookie contract costing up to five years, the Vikings gave him the opportunity to shift resources to other positions. They applied excessive cash budgets and pay cap space to create one of the most frightening lineups in the NFL on either side of the ball.

Over the past two offseasons, they have signed six new defensive starters and re-signed two incumbents. Of the 22 starting positions, 18 could be met by veterans who have at least a second NFL contract. McCarthy is one of four on his rookie contracts and is a group that includes Jackson, receiver Jordan Addison and linebacker Ivan Pace Jr.

“We don’t need him to become the team’s Patrick Mahomes right now,” Safety Josh Meteras said. “He’s still trying to figure things out. He still has to play his first game. He still has to put out his anxiety and things.

“The last thing we want him to do is feel like he has to say the last words to the team. [before a game]Or say the last word every day. There’s a veteran team for a reason. He welcomes such a man, so he can focus on the daily process. ”

The same goes for the McCarthy realizes he is under a lot of pressure as the months progress.

“Personally,” he said.