JJ McCarthy to undergo knee surgery - out for 2024
Aug 13, 2024 19:25:09 GMT -6
Vikadan11 likes this
Post by suncoastvike on Aug 13, 2024 19:25:09 GMT -6
Bringing Darnold back after a 2023 Baker Mayfield-like season likely means a $30m+ a year contract (similar to what Mayfield received this offseason), which deflates the value of a QB1 on their cheap, rookie contract and the Vikings plan of spending big in free agency in 2025 at positions of need (outside of the QB position anyway). Knowing you have a "sure thing" QB1 in Darnold given that hypothetical 2024 performance, do you go with a question-mark in McCarthy to lead this team into the alleged "window" that opens in 2025? Or do we possibly bring in another "reclamation" Darnold/Mayfield project as a backup plan in 2025 if McCarthy doesn't show he's QB1 material in 2025?
I've already detailed on Page 5 of this thread the long history of knee-related injuries to Vikings QB1's, and another "tradition" in Vikings lore is QB debates...TJack or Brad Johnson; Ponder or Cassel; Cassel or Teddy, Teddy/Bradford/Case, Kirk or moving on, etc, etc, etc. I don't like- "absolutes", but outside of death and taxes, QB debates on Vikings message boards are basically a sure-fire thing and this situation could create yet another one.
I haven't looked at the list of free agent QB's in 2025 to see who else might be out there, but if that above situation does happen, I think I would be in favor of letting Darnold go in free agency to another team, having McCarthy enter the 2025 Offseason program as QB1 and bring-in a veteran QB that might be familiar-enough in a Shanahan/McVay style offense that could take over for McCarthy if something happened. We would still be on-track with the original plan of spending big on positions of need in 2025 Free Agency and head into the 2025 season with McCarthy leading the offense.
I hope Sam has a Baker like season and gets us in the playoffs but we don't play in a division that 9 wins can take it unfortunately. This injury really stings even if the goal was always to bring JJ along slowly. It just feels so familiar. We are one more injury away from last year where the only hope is a full recovery and a new season instead of drafting the future. The cash we'll be able to spend next offseason and a full recovery coupled with a full season of learning doesn't dampen the future. Just feels like we are always a season away from the future.
Hope Sam can make this one fun.
... and neither is this Chris guy.