Despite Shedeur Sanders' status in the Cleveland Browns' quarterback battle and Caleb Williams' persistent struggles producing most of the mainstream headlines out of training camp, there seems to be a growing concern with the Vikings' young signal-caller.
J.J. McCarthy missed his rookie season after numerous complications following a torn meniscus, so naturally, there will be growing pains as he acclimates himself to the league.
It doesn't help that he will be under center for a team coming off a 13-win campaign, which was a game away from winning the division and being the top seed in the NFC.
Coach Kevin O'Connell and star wideout Justin Jefferson have defended the 22-year-old's development, but the local media beat hasn't been impressed with his performance.
On his show "The Herd," responding to a report that McCarthy is working on his touch as a passer, Colin Cowherd scoffed at the notion he's in a similar position as a young Josh Allen.
"Josh Allen was a total project, but he was a moldable piece of clay," Cowherd said. "McCarthy got three years of great coaching from Jim Harbaugh—you're looking at what he is. This idea that he's going to go two or three levels up from what he's been is unlikely."
Suggesting that young talent can't improve in the NFL if they had elite college coaching seems a bit tone-deaf. There are too many cases of backups at blue-blood programs turning pro and outproducing their draft slot.
McCarthy is still raw—it's not like Michigan asked him to command its offense. Who knows how well he could diagnose defenses and grasp a scheme?
Maybe we should let him play a few meaningful games first before suggesting his ceiling is capped.