April 11, 2026, 4:30 a.m. PT
There have been several opinions put forth for why the Los Angeles Rams should make a deal for Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The problem is that we’ve seen what the fit would look like and it doesn’t pass the smell test.
There’s a lot to love about McCarthy’s game but Sean McVay requires a passer to do certain non-negotiables and at this point, McCarthy cannot do those things – and it’s doubtful that he will be able to develop those skills. The entire McVay offense is predicated on the ability to diagnose beneficial matchups pre-snap before executing throws post-snap.
That pre-snap determination, where the quarterback has some idea of where he’s going with the ball, is a dangerous game with a passer who lacks the ability to properly exploit coverages and who is able to play from the pocket. McCarthy can’t do either.
When it comes to McCarthy, he’s going to need a system that is shotgun-based with a heavy usage of the pistol, instead of under-center looks, due to his development at Michigan and dual-threat ability. There’s a reason Michigan gave Blake Corum the ball 26 times against Penn State, while McCarthy threw the ball eight times. Keep in mind, Michigan had A.J. Barner and Colston Loveland for the game.
While I respect McCarthy’s big-game ability, as he proved in his collegiate career, it’s hard to picture McCarthy in a McVay offense loaded with stars in Minnesota and believe that he’ll be the missing piece in Los Angeles. The McCarthy decision likely got Kwesi Adofo-Mensah fired and has Kevin O’Connell on a seat that’s warming up.
Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.
Despite the noise, McCarthy needs a system that’s suited for his play style, and the McVay offense, in the way Sean McVay conducts it, does not pair well with the former national champion.