NFL Insider: J.J. McCarthy ‘Squarely Behind’ Sam Darnold on Vikings’ QB Depth Chart

The Minnesota Vikings are taking a patient approach with the development of rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

Kevin Seifert of ESPN reported McCarthy is “squarely behind” Sam Darnold on the Vikings’ depth chart this offseason. Darnold has taken the majority of first-team reps, with McCarthy often coming in even behind Nick Mullens in the pecking order.

This should come as no surprise, as the Vikings signed Darnold this offseason to serve as a stopgap starter ahead of their quarterback of the future. Minnesota tabbed McCarthy with that moniker after trading up to take him with the No. 10 pick in April’s NFL draft, but there is no rush to thrust him into first-team reps.

McCarthy was always seen as a prospect who may need a full year to develop. He just turned 21 in January and spent his career at Michigan playing a game-manager role rather than being the focal point in the Wolverines offense.

Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson said he’s already taken McCarthy under his wing.

“I talked to J.J. as soon as he got drafted. I told him confidence is key, just coming into this league with confidence and being able to have that leadership just right off the bat being a rookie,” Jefferson told reporters. “There’s going to be people to come and help. Of course, I’m going to be that main person to be in his ear and try to teach him and try to prepare him for what we’re about to go through. But I told him this league is tough. It’s not an easy job to come out here and perform at the highest ability, especially as a rookie. But I definitely will be that main person that he can lean on and help throughout the way.”

Darnold should also be able to lend an ear, given he was once a young first-round quarterback thrust into the starting lineup before he was ready. The USC product’s time with the Jets was nothing short of a disaster, and he didn’t fare much better during a two-year stint with the Carolina Panthers.

However, a year of working under Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco was enough for the Vikings to hand him a one-year, $10 million contract to play the mentor role for McCarthy.