The Minnesota Vikings initially held high hopes for the 2025 season after nearly securing the No. 1 playoff seed in the NFC for 2024. The franchise placed its future on J.J. McCarthy, a promising quarterback whose rookie season was cut short due to a knee injury suffered in the preseason opener.

A significant spending spree took place, focusing on reinforcing both the offensive line, which included additions like Will Fries and Ryan Kelly, and the defensive line, bringing in talents Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave.

Nevertheless, despite McCarthy’s physical capabilities, he has faced struggles with minimal playtime—only 12 snaps in the preseason. In contrast, Bo Nix, selected 12th overall in 2024, participated actively in nearly all offensive plays for the Denver Broncos.

This season has been challenging for the Vikings, highlighted by the stark decline in performance from Sam Darnold, who brought honors in the previous season. McCarthy showed promise with three comeback touchdowns against the Chicago Bears, yet falters were apparent as he nurses a right ankle sprain after two games. The burden has fallen on Carson Wentz, who was brought in as a backup, but his performance has been inconsistent.

The Vikings’ commitment to McCarthy overshadowed other viable quarterback options such as Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, and Aaron Rodgers. They now sit at the bottom of the NFC North with a 3-4 tally, with losses partly due to a drop in quarterback performance. It is feasible that a better quarterback might have steered them to a winning record similar to the previous season.

As Sam Darnold joined the Seattle Seahawks and is showcasing good performance with impressive stats, the Vikings will inevitably face scrutiny regarding their quarterback choices moving forward.