NFL Analyst Drops Rough Take On Vikings’ QB JJ McCarthy

There are lot of people who think that Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy could contend for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award next season.

Greg Cosell of NFL Matchup doesn’t seem like one of them.

During a recent appearance on The Ross Tucker Podcast, Cosell called McCarthy a “developmental” prospect.

“It required a lot of effort for him to make throws that were relatively routine,” Cosell said. ” … You could see his whole body getting involved in delivering the football. He needed a firm base to throw the ball. He needed everything to be right to the deliver the football, and he had to work to throw it. That really stood out on tape.”

Cosell also isn’t necessarily buying the notion that McCarthy has great arm strength.

“I know a lot of people have said with his Pro Day and things that happened since the season that he’s got a big arm,” Cosell said. “He did not show that on tape. That’s all I have. … I’m only seeing the tape from the season. Maybe he’s improved. Maybe there was a work on mechanics, which he needed by the way. Maybe all these things have improved since the season, but watching his college tape … he was to me much more of a developmental guy based on tape.”

Cosell is hardly alone in his assessment.

While some have lauded McCarthy’s intangibles, others have expressed serious concern over his physical limitations, which Cosell seemed to be alluding to in his breakdown of the signal-caller.

McCarthy is coming off of a 2023 campaign in which he led Michigan to a national championship while throwing for 2,991 yards, 22 touchdowns and four interceptions while completing 72.3 percent of his passes. He also rushed for 202 yards and three scores.

The Wolverines featured a run-heavy offense under Jim Harbaugh, so McCarthy wasn’t asked to do anything extravagant.

We’ll see if J.J. McCarthy can silence his doubters once he hits the field in September.