Kwesi Adofo-Mensah: If we decide to launch JJ McCarthy in 2025, we will do so with confidence

The Vikings traded for draft quarterback JJ McCarthy at No. 10 overall with the idea that he would be their quarterback of the future.

Although McCarthy did not play as a rookie due to a knee injury suffered in the preseason, he could potentially become Minnesota’s starter as early as 2025.

The Vikings have some decisions to make at QB, but general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said during his Thursday press conference that McCarthy is progressing well after tearing his meniscus.

“He is on the ground, throwing and trainingsaid Adofo-Mensah, noting that he had just seen McCarthy in the facility doing field rehabilitation work. “He looks great.” He’s excited. You’re talking about a kid who is just obsessed with football and loves being in the game. So we’re excited about what we have in him. We’re excited for this offseason for him. It’s a big offseason. And then we’ll continue from there.

Although McCarthy didn’t play beyond the first preseason game, he was in the building all season and learned a lot, with Adofo-Mensah calling it “a great mental year.”

“It’s a redshirt year, but mentally, the process that they had, just in our exit meetings with him, just talking about how much he learned this year compared to other years of his football life, (it was) just exponential, what you what I would expect for a young player in this building,” Adofo-Menssah said. “So I think we really have confidence in him, in his work ethic and his preparation.”

Does that mean the Vikings would be comfortable heading into the 2025 season with him as their starter?

“But I can’t sit here and tell you I know something for sure,” Adofo-Mensah said. “I know I’m ready to believe in the person we have. This position is all about talent and preparation – and he has those things in spades. So if this is the course of action we decide, we will enter into it with confidence.