EAGAN, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings' completed the primary goal of their offseason last weekend during the NFL draft: build a personnel cocoon around quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
Now they are on to the job of ensuring he can thrive in it.
McCarthy emerged from the shadows this week, speaking to Minnesota reporters Tuesday for the first time in 235 days. After an offseason in which the team replaced three of its five starting offensive linemen, and committed an NFL-high $315 million to its 2025 roster as part of a massive swing through free agency, McCarthy quipped: "I'm here for it.