The Minnesota Vikings didn't just get two talented players in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, they also got players who are excellent fits. ESPN's Matt Bowen, who played in the National Football League, listed quarterback J.J. McCarthy as one of the best fits in the NFL Draft.
The breakdown from Bowen is a good one, as the scheme that Kevin O'Connell runs is going to help maximize the young passer early on.
In Kevin O'Connell's system, McCarthy will be set up to throw with consistent rhythm on defined concepts, especially to the middle of the field. He completed 75.3% of his passes on throws inside the numbers last season at Michigan, including 15 touchdowns and three interceptions. McCarthy can heat up his pass velocity to drive the ball, attacking tight windows off layered reads -- especially with play-action elements rolled in. No NFL team used play-action more than the Vikings in 2023 (30.6% of dropbacks).
As a passer, McCarthy can target all three levels of the field -- short, medium and deep -- and he can create outside of structure when necessary. But it's the core passing/play-action concepts in O'Connell's offense that really make this fit work. And if McCarthy wins the No. 1 job over Sam Darnold in camp, he will be throwing the ball to a talented group of pass-catchers, led by top-tier wide receiver Justin Jefferson.
The big thing that jumps out in Bowen's description is throwing over the middle of the field. In the college game, you don't often see offenses make that a priority. Michigan running a pro-style offense was one of the few and they did so at a high level.
That will help McCarthy's transition to the NFL early on and also maximize him throughout his career.
