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NFL Rumors: Vikings Haven't Ruled Out J.J. McCarthy Being QB1 over Sam Darnold Week 1

Even though the Minnesota Vikings traded up to select J.J. McCarthy with the 10th pick in the 2024 NFL draft hoping he will become their quarterback of the future, there appears to be a very legitimate competition with Sam Darnold right now.

Per ESPN's Kevin Seifert, the Vikings haven't ruled out McCarthy as their starter to open the regular season, but they "want his ascension to be organic" instead of putting him on the field because they don't have anyone better.

This tracks with what Seifert wrote soon after the draft that the Vikings are "extremely wary" of rushing McCarthy because of the research they've done about "the risks of exposing quarterbacks before they're ready.