NFL teams using a journeyman quarterback as a “bridge” to an incoming rookie has become a common practice across the league. In those instances, the bridge starter usually takes most of the starting snaps during training camp. Coaches will keep reiterating that they want to bring the rookie on slowly and that they want to create competition. On occasion, the rookie is allowed to force the issue and take the job, but normally the competition results in the bridge quarterback starting the first few games before ceding to the rookie after a lackluster start. The Vikings quarterback situation currently looks on track to follow that playbook with precision.
Vikings Quarterback Competition Only Has One Right Answer
In truth, it is one of the strangest practices that exists in the NFL. Teams that use a bridge quarterback are essentially giving snaps to a player who isn’t really helping them win now and has no long-term future with the franchise. It makes very little sense on paper.
One potentially reasonable explanation could be that a team drafting a rookie quarterback may not have the roster to allow for a rookie to flourish and grow. The David Carr horror story with the expansion Texans is a good case study for how rookie quarterbacks can break. The Vikings, however, do not find themselves in such a position. They have a roster brimming with some of the best offensive skill position talent in football. They also feature an offensive line that can keep a young passer upright while they’re getting used to NFL game speed. In the situation the Vikings find themselves in, the argument that J.J. McCarthy should be starting Week 1 comes down to the lackluster quarterback he is competing against and the timeline that the talented Vikings roster is on.
Sam Darnold has Shown no Signs That a Leap is Coming
Another fun twist to bridge quarterbacks is that fanbases often love to imagine unforeseen leaps from the bridge guy. Sam Darnold as a former top-5 overall pick has that type of pedigree that could let the imagination run wild. He has never lacked arm talent or the athleticism to be an NFL starter. Yet the production never came close to living up to the talent as a starter with the Jets and Panthers. Sure, an argument can be made that Darnold was put in horrendous situations with his prior teams. And it’s fair to a point as his head coaches at those stops, Adam Gase and Matt Rhule, are hardly considered world-beating coaches. However, throughout five seasons under bad but offensive-minded head coaches, Darnold never showed any sustained quality play.
That’s the issue with Darnold, there’s not even a string of quality starts to point to as a sign of growth. If anything, Darnold got worse as his career progressed. In his last two true seasons as a starter, he threw more interceptions than touchdowns. Even in San Francisco, with incredible surrounding offensive talent, he didn’t show signs of progress in admittedly limited action. Darnold is in all likelihood the quarterback he’s shown himself to be to this point. Hoping for him to make a big jump going into his seventh year is simply unrealistic.
The bottom line is that there shouldn’t be an expectation that Darnold performs at a high level for the Vikings. Even with an excellent offensive head coach and Minnesota’s elite offensive talent at his disposal, he likely won’t succeed. As such, the snaps he’s taking would be better spent getting J.J. McCarthy as ready for his audition as possible.
Determining J.J. McCarthy’s Fit as Vikings Quarterback is Vital
The most substantial argument that McCarthy should be starting coincides with determining how he could fit in a future championship window. The Vikings are in a very different place than most teams that draft a first-round quarterback. They have a roster that is ready to compete for championships the moment they figure out the quarterback position. It’s both a dream scenario for a young quarterback and one that comes with added pressure. The Vikings don’t necessarily have as much time as a rebuilding team would be patient with McCarthy. They need to figure out very quickly if he has the potential to elevate the roster to a championship level. By playing him a full 17 games and giving him the keys right away, the Vikings would likely have their answer by the end of the season.
Making the matter even more pressing, McCarthy came out of college far from a sure thing. He showed flashes when he was set loose, but Michigan’s run-heavy offense hid him for most of his college career. There is very real bust potential with McCarthy due to there just not being enough available tape of him. The only way to remedy that is to get him out on the field.
J.J. McCarthy should be the Vikings quarterback in Week 1 if nothing else because he’s an unknown commodity and Darnold is very much a known one. And if he doesn’t show promise by year’s end with the talent the Vikings have, then the Vikings have the insight they need to quickly pivot as needed. They won’t be able to do that if they stash McCarthy on the bench for the majority of the season.
Main Photo: [Melanie Maxwell] – USA Today Sports
