Vikings Make Bold Move, Select J.J. McCarthy as Future Franchise Quarterback

ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit believes the Minnesota Vikings have made a wise decision by drafting quarterback J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. McCarthy, who led the Michigan Wolverines to an undefeated season and the national championship before declaring for the draft, is expected to bring a winning mentality and a skill set that fits perfectly into the Vikings' offensive system.

The Minnesota Vikings have sent shockwaves through the NFL landscape by selecting Michigan standout J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The move has been lauded by ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit, who believes McCarthy is a "winner" and has the potential to become one of the faces of the league.

McCarthy, who led the Wolverines to an undefeated season and the national championship, saw a rise in his draft stock in the weeks leading up to the big night, but he ultimately fell to the No. 10 spot after the Vikings traded up to select the young signal caller. Four other quarterbacks were taken before him, including former Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who lost to Michigan in the title game.

During a recent episode of OutKick's "Don't @ Me with Dan Dakich," Herbstreit praised McCarthy as the real deal, which he credited in large part to former head coach Jim Harbaugh's offense.

"The guy's a winner — he's 27-1, won a national title, brought Michigan back to being Michigan, and now he goes to Minnesota," Herbstreit said. "And I think if you look at [Vikings head coach] Kevin O'Connell… he's going to put a system that's very similar to what J.J. McCarthy did at Michigan, and I think this kid's going to fit in perfectly."

Herbstreit added, "I think that kid could eventually become one of the faces of the NFL. I think he's got a chance to really take off."

The Vikings obviously saw something similar and made the move for McCarthy. They traded up with the New York Jets, handing over the No. 11 pick and a fourth and fifth-rounder in exchange for Nos. 10 and 203.

"We knew we weren't the only ones that had identified him as a quarterback we wanted to select," O'Connell said of the jump. "You start thinking about the what-if."

In his two full seasons as starter at Michigan, McCarthy went 27-1. He set the program record with a 72.3% completion percentage and threw for 5,710 yards, 44 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. The Associated Press contributed to this report.