J..J. McCarthy runs with the ball vs. Raiders in August 2024Sullivan opined.

“As McCarthy now takes the keys to the offense, there may be some level of concern/wonder about how he will fare. Well, the former Michigan quarterback does have the benefit of having the best collection of talent around him in the league.”

McCarthy missed all of his maiden voyage season because of the meniscus tear.

Sullivan added, “Minnesota spent the offseason bolstering the interior of the offensive line, further providing McCarthy with protection. Meanwhile, his skill position group is headlined by Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and Aaron Jones.”

“That’s not mentioning an offensive guru, head coach Kevin O’Connell, in his ear. McCarthy is set up to thrive as he ascends to QB1.”

A Ringing Endorsement

In the realm of endorsements, Sullivan’s is about as fancy as it gets.

Ordinarily, in the past, Vikings fans would be a little bit skittish about rookie quarterbacks (or, in this case, a second-year passer), hoping the team made the right pick. The franchise has encountered notable swings and misses when drafting signal-callers.

But this time feels different, mainly because head coach Kevin O’Connell, known as a quarterback guru, personally locked in the selection.

Is the Vikings’ Long Search … Over?

Let’s face it: the Vikings have not employed a successful long-term or semi-long-term quarterback whom they drafted in 25 years. The last example? Daunte Culpepper, a big, beefy passer from the 2000s. Culpepper led Minnesota admirably for 5.5 seasons before succumbing to a vicious knee injury.

a fiction novel.

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