Vikings' GM confident in McCarthy as QB1: 'That's the outcome we want'
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is happy with J.J. McCarthy as the Minnesota Vikings' starting signal-caller and with the team's quarterback room.
"That's the outcome we want, and that's the outcome we're headed towards," Adofo-Mensah said about McCarthy being QB1, according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert.
Adofo-Mensah added: "At every checkpoint, whether it had been the draft process or practice until the injury, really the offseason now, (McCarthy) has met the bar. He's exceeded our expectations at every point."
The general manager noted the front office "wanted to build a team that can support a young quarterback," while remaining competitive, The Minnesota Star Tribune's Ben Goessling reported.
Minnesota selected McCarthy 10th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, but he tore his right meniscus in the preseason. The passer was placed on injured reserve for the entire season, and Sam Darnold started every regular season and playoff game.
Darnold and backup quarterback Daniel Jones signed offseason deals with the Seattle Seahawks and the Indianapolis Colts, respectively. McCarthy and Brett Rypien are the only remaining signal-callers in Minnesota.
Adofo-Mensah also said the team had moved on from adding Aaron Rodgers to the team roster, but he wouldn't rule out his addition in the future. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero had reported on March 19 that the team wasn't actively pursuing the 41-year-old quarterback and that the Vikings turned down multiple trade offers for McCarthy.
"A player like (Rodgers) is always gonna be in those conversations," Adofo-Mensah said, per Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer. "But from our delineations at that time, we're happy with where we are going forward. Obviously, the caliber of player (he is), it had to be part of our conversations."
The Vikings are still looking to upgrade their quarterback room "in different ways," Adofo-Mensah said, per Goessling.
Minnesota finished 14-3 last season but lost to Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round. The team has four picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, including the 24th overall.