The Minnesota Vikings needed a new quarterback after letting Kirk Cousins go in free agency, and they got one. After trading up with the New York Jets, the Vikings selected Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy at No. 10 overall in the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday night in Detroit.
The team made the trade up after seeing Atlanta take QB Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8. That meant Denver (No. 12 overall) and Las Vegas, one slot later, had one fewer to choose from. The Vikings’ move up secured them the franchise quarterback they had hoped for.
McCarthy will have high expectations from day one in Minnesota. He is coming off winning a national championship with Michigan, where he had a record of 27-1 as a starter.
GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell hope that the winning continues when he gets into in the highly competitive NFC North.
