The Minnesota Vikings are set on going forward with J.J. McCarthy as their starting quarterback going forward.
McCarthy, the starting quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines during their 2023 national championship and the Vikings' 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, did not get to partake in his legitimate rookie year after fully tearing his meniscus, the first quarterback ever selected in the first round to miss their entire first season because of injury.
Now that McCarthy is fully healthy and ready to lead the Vikings to the highest of highs, head coach Kevin O'Connell and the rest of the Minnesota coaching staff now must search for a backup for the young quarterback, one with veteran experience and knowledge of how to lead a team to a championship in the professional level.
McCarthy may have the championship pedigree at the college level, but he'll need some assistance if he wants to achieve that same success professionally.
According to Josh Buckhalter on Heavy Sports, one answer to that situation could be in Arizona, with backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who is currently the QB2 for the Cardinals behind former Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray.
Brissett was the backup quarterback to Tom Brady during the Patriots' historical comeback in Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons.
After additional stints as a backup across the NFL, Brissett returned to New England in the 2024 and was the starting quarterback before rookie Drake Maye took over the role in Week 6.
Buckhalter writes that the Vikings could trade a seventh-round pick in the 2026 draft to easily acquire Brissett.
Either way, whoever backs McCarthy up, they will also have a wide range of offensive weapons on their team, including running back Aaron Jones and wide receiver Justin Jefferson, the latter of which is considered the best at his position in today's NFL.