The Minnesota Vikings finally answered the question of who will backup J.J. McCarthy in 2025.
After being linked to four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers early in the offseason, the Vikings passed on bringing in the 41-year-old Super Bowl winner after deeming McCarthy ready to take over the starting job after letting Sam Darnold leave in free agency.
Aside from McCarthy, the only other QB Minnesota has under contract is 28-year-old journeyman Brett Rypien, who has just 10 appearances and four NFL starts under his belt.
Well, the Vikings likely put their fans at ease on Saturday when they traded for Sam Howell in a draft day deal with the Seattle Seahawks.
Howell, a fifth-round pick of the Washington Commanders in 2022, attempted just five passes last season while backing up Geno Smith, but he does have a full season of starting experience with the Commanders in 2023.
In three seasons, Howell has thrown for 4,139 yards, 22 touchdowns and 23 interceptions while being sacked 72 times. The 24-year-old passer is a solid insurance plan for McCarthy, who missed his entire rookie season after suffering a torn meniscus during the preseason.
“The big thing is he's done a phenomenal job with what I would really call invisible habits, invisible work that he's done when really nobody's been watching, in many ways, solidifying and finalizing his rehab, then on into a phase where he's really been able to push it on the field from throws and working his technique and fundamentals," Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said of McCarthy.
“And then ultimately, you know, the mental side of it, as well. He's always working. And now he gets the ability to from Day 1, learn everything as we go through our installations multiple times this spring, and just the different checkpoints, I think the spring is set up perfectly for J.J. with where he's at, from a standpoint of Phase 1 being in a classroom setting, running and lifting and continuing what he's been able to do while a lot of his teammates haven't been here.”
Seattle’s selection of Alabama QB Jalen Milroe in Round 3 on Friday likely made Howell expendable.
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