Its easy to fall in love....

I mean that's the rub right...  Darnold is a big strong QB with some mobility.  Very strong arm, accurate, can extend a play.  His athletic profile fits what KOC wants from his QB and the types of throws he's required to make in this offense.

Buuuuuut all those positives we just laid out with Darnold are even more true for McCarthy.  Elite arm strength, accurate to all levels of the field.  Genuine speed and agility to extend plays and create big plays with his legs.  Impeccable leadership and it factor.

Even if Darnold continues to have a strong season, I think McCarthy will be even better. Ideal world, Sam continues this level of play...  we extend him mid-season for another year to give him a bump in guaranteed money this season and next year, and let him and McCarthy compete for the job in 2025.

The Purple Persuasion
@TPPSkol

“(He) Has that “It” factor to him that transcends what has been a temporary setback in an injury…”

-#Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell on rookie QB JJ McCarthy

Just a matter of time till Sam v JJM turns contentious...

Just kidding (sort of)

It would be a nice problem to have IF Sam continues to play this well.

I don't think 'contentious' is the right word, maybe 'competitive' would be more apt. But I don't even think that. IMO, this is JJM's team in 2025. Sam is going to have to be beyond stellar for it to be anything else. And despite what some Viking's fans think, I don't see Sammy keeping that bar raised that high consistently this year. 

Listen, Darnold has been really good. He seems like a nice guy. Its his team right now. I'm just enjoying the ride week to week. He's a talented passer.

Yes but we should get a 3rd for Cousins in '25 and a 3rd for Darnold in '26. [b]Of course we can get a helluva lot more for him if we extend him and then trade him a year later.[/b]

I just don't see that happening. You have to use that rookie contract to your benefit, what is sitting JJM another year going to do? Nothing for his development. Darnold knows the score....the team drafted a top 10 QB. Its 3 games in. You can hear it in KOC's discussions....he's 'enjoying' coaching Darnold, but his piece of clay is McCarthy. KOC has called him a 'franchise QB'. He saw what he needed to see. I guess I don't understand how some here doubt that with how KOC has elevated Darnold's play: he'll not do the same thing with JJM?.....yet JJM has even more physical gifts and no bad habits learned yet like Darnold has.

For me it's not about doubting JJM (though we all have to realize he's proven nothing. A couple series in one preseason game does not a franchise QB make--Trubisky, RGIII) That said, I thought he looked fantastic. More importantly, KOC is confident we got our guy and I trust him. 

For me it's more about leveraging assets. You don't mess around with QBs. You got a top NFL QB (insert reflexive obligatory comment: need to see more), you keep him. You got two? Throw a party. McCarthy ain't going anywhere.

Well, you can't say that JJM has 'proven nothing' and then at the same time say 'throw a party, the team has two QBs'. Only one can start and play. Won't know on JJM until he actually plays....which he won't do if we resign Darnold. You leverage the asset by him playing well as a bridge QB, get a 3rd rounder as a comp and turn the keys over to JJM. This pipe dream of resigning Darnold to just trade him is silly, to say the least.

Read it again.

I think I read it fine.