Tom Brady cautions expecting too much from Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy too soon
Fans in Minnesota have been waiting patiently for quarterback J.J. McCarthy's regular-season debut, and that day is upon us.
However, NFL legend and FOX Sports analyst Tom Brady warns not to expect too much from McCarthy in his first year as an NFL starter. After being selected No. 10 overall by the Vikings in last year's draft, McCarthy suffered a torn meniscus in the preseason, forcing him to miss the entire 2024 campaign.
So, 2025 is still technically McCarthy's first season, and what Brady suggests seems wise.
"They're expecting J.J. to come and play at that level that Sam [Darnold] did. But I think that's a lot to ask a young player. In my second year, I wasn't the same quarterback that I was in Year 7 or Year 8. I was way better in 2007 than when I was in 2001 when I took over," Brady said to Chris Collinsworth on the Pro Football Focus podcast.
Sam Darnold, who is now in Seattle, started all 17 games for Minnesota last season and was named to his first Pro Bowl. Darnold threw 35 touchdowns to just 12 interceptions and 4,319 yards through the air. He posted career highs in multiple categories, including a completion percentage of 66.2%.
Expecting that type of production from McCarthy in year one would be a recipe for disaster. Regardless of what he did in college or bright spots in the preseason, McCarthy is still a rookie, and there are no guarantees. McCarthy did win a national championship at Michigan under now-NFL head coach Jim Harbaugh and was a highly touted prospect entering the league.
Brady points out that McCarthy still has to develop and grow as an NFL quarterback, and that won't happen overnight.
"These years of development, they all add up, and I think it's a bit unfair to create unrealistic expectations for a quarterback in his second year. But of course, Minnesota Vikings fans are going to have those expectations because of how high of a pick he is. He's got a lot to prove."
Brady is arguably the greatest QB in NFL history, and his thoughts carry weight. There's a reason Fox Sports signed him to a 10-year, $375 million deal before he even settled into retirement. McCarthy has an intriguing skill set, which is why the Vikings spent a top-10 pick on him. But bringing him along in Kevin O'Connell's offense will take time.
"There's going to be some ups, there's going to be some downs," O'Connell said of McCarthy. "We drafted a player we hoped would hold himself to a standard that allows that arrow to stay pointed up regardless of the result, especially early on - because we're trying to build a player here that can sustain for a long time in Minnesota."
McCarthy gets his first shot in the spotlight on "Monday Night Football" at 8:15 p.m. ET in Chicago against the Bears to close out Week 1.