2024-25 NFL odds: Will J.J. McCarthy land at bottom of Vikings depth chart?
There is indeed a quarterback competition in Minnesota, and rookie J.J. McCarthy might get edged out by not one, but two veteran signal-callers.
Below were Minnesota's QB Week 1 odds as of May 29:
VIKINGS QB TO PLAY FIRST SNAP — WEEK 1
Sam Darnold, -200 (bet $10 to win $15 total)
J.J. McCarthy, +150 (bet $10 to win $25 total)
However, based on recent reports, those odds could move even more once back on the board.
"It looks like J.J. McCarthy is two or three on the depth chart, squarely behind … Sam Darnold," co-host Jason McIntyre explained on Monday's episode of "The Herd." "And there are some reports that Nick Mullens is getting a lot of second-team reps in practice."
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The Vikings have undergone a makeover to their QB room this offseason. Longtime signal-caller Kirk Cousins — who spent the past six seasons in Minnesota — bolted to Atlanta in free agency. With that, the Vikings signed veteran QB Sam Darnold to a one-year deal and drafted Michigan standout J.J. McCarthy with the 10th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Sam Darnold was drafted with the No. 3 pick in 2018 by the Jets. At only 26 years old, the Vikings will make Darnold's fourth team in seven years.
After starting 49 games during his first four seasons with New York, Darnold started six games for the Panthers in 2022.
Last season, he was on the roster in San Francisco, where he started just one game. His Week 18 start for the Niners ended up in a 21-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, a meaningless game in terms of playoff standings.
He is 21-35 as a starter during his career, with a career QB rating of 78.3.
Nick Mullens — the other player who recently entered the Vikings QB conversation — is in his sixth season and came into the league as an undrafted free agent. He played for the 49ers before stints with the Eagles, Browns and Raiders.
Mullens was traded to Minnesota from the Raiders in August 2022.
Now, to McCarthy.
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The Michigan product was one of six QBs taken in the first 12 picks, and is coming off a national title win with the Wolverines.
McCarthy, 21, started 29 games for the Maize and Blue over the last two seasons, suffering just a single loss.
However, McCarthy never threw for 3,000 yards in a season and had a total of 5,710 passing yards and 44 touchdowns over the past two seasons. To put that in context, former USC star Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, threw for 8,170 yards and 72 touchdowns over the past two years.
McCarthy threw nine total interceptions in 2022 and 2023. Williams threw 10, despite having 440 more passing attempts.
The one QB that was selected after McCarthy in the first round, former Oregon QB Bo Nix, threw for 8,101 yards, 74 TDs and 10 interceptions over the last two seasons. He attempted 431 more passes than McCarthy.
At DraftKings, McCarthy at +350 is third on the oddsboard to have the most passing yards as a rookie. Ahead of him are Caleb Williams at +100, followed by Jayden Daniels at +250.
He is also fourth on the oddsboard to win Offensive Rookie of the Year at +1200.
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