J.J. McCarthy has started just six games for the Minnesota Vikings, but his reign as QB1 could end as soon as next season.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell wrote Thursday that the “best-case scenario” for McCarthy is that he is battling an established veteran for the starting job come next spring. The worst-case outcome is that he’s QB2 and in need of an injury or some other sort of disaster to get back into the top job.
“If McCarthy returns from his concussion and shows signs of growth over the final month of the season, the Vikings should field competition for their starting job in camp next year,” Barnwell wrote. “If he continues to look overmatched upon his return to the lineup, though, the Vikings might move forward with a new plan at quarterback, consigning McCarthy to a backup role after just a handful of pro starts.”
Read More: JJ McCarthy News Prompts Vikings Quarterback Move
That reality puts Minnesota high on the list of teams in need of a quarterback come free agency next March. Somewhat ironically, the best player at that position heading to the market is Daniel Jones, whom the Vikings had on their roster last season but let walk to the Indianapolis Colts in free agency to clear the way for McCarthy.
Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports on Wednesday named the Vikings as among the top candidates to ink Jones, along with the Colts, New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals.
“The Colts signaled their intentions to build around this rejuvenated version of Jones when they spent big on other spots at the trade deadline, but how Jones finishes could determine his long-term fate, not so dissimilar to Sam Darnold of last year,” Benjamin wrote.
Jones has completed 68 percent of his passes this season, throwing for 3,041 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He has also rushed the football for 160 yards and five scores. Jones has amassed nearly 18,000 passing yards and more than 2,300 rushing yards over the course of his seven-year NFL career, accounting for 109 total touchdowns and 54 interceptions.
Read More: Adam Schefter Gets Honest About Vikings, Justin Jefferson Trade Rumors