The Super Bowl matchup is set and as we all know, Sam Darnold has led/guided/caddied the Seahawks into the big game. The discussion is already raging about how the people in charge of this team handled the QB depth chart this season. Regardless of them somehow bringing back Darnold, they truly miscalculated the readiness of […]
The Super Bowl matchup is set and as we all know, Sam Darnold has led/guided/caddied the Seahawks into the big game. The discussion is already raging about how the people in charge of this team handled the QB depth chart this season. Regardless of them somehow bringing back Darnold, they truly miscalculated the readiness of JJ McCarthy and they really screwed up the backup spots. It is OK to not keep Darnold or Jones but they should have had known at least a couple of days before the legal tampering period started in order to find another backup. Darnold and Jones signed on March 13, 2025. Mac Jones signed his deal on March 14, 2025. You would like to believe that these dudes had their stuff together enough to be able to pivot away from Darnold and Jones and not wait until the last minute. Even if they would not or could not get Jones because he wanted to go play for the 49ers, Jameis Winston did not sign his deal until March 31, 2025. There is no question they really mishandled the QB position as a whole this past off season.
The only hope is that JJ McCarthy can somehow someway stay on the field and play at least one full freaking season. Never mind his performance on the field. They cannot even get a really good look at him due to his missed games. I am fairly confident that they were talked to sternly by the Wilfs because their press conferences were very revealing when they were speaking about the QB position. Not once did they sat JJ McCarthy will be our starting QB in 2026. In the end, if they want to keep their jobs, then they had better get the position in better shape and they had better win more games.
Yore AI questions of the day …
Question 1: jj mccarthy advanced qb stats 2025
In his 2025 NFL season with the Minnesota Vikings, J.J. McCarthy had a passer rating of 72.6, threw for 1,632 yards with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 10 games played. His completion percentage was 57.6%, and he added 181 rushing yards and 4 rushing touchdowns on the ground.
2025 Regular Season Stats : Stat : Rank (among QBs)
Passing Yards : 1,632 : 33rd
Passing Touchdowns : 11 : 29th
Interceptions : 12 : 38th
Passer Rating : 72.6 : N/A
QBR : 35.7 : 35th
Completion % : 57.6% : N/A
Rushing Yards : 181 : N/A
Rushing TDs : 4 : N/A
PFF Passing Grade : 60.1 : 35th
Intended Air Yards : 9.6 : 1st (highest)
On-Target % : 59.9% : Last (35th)
Key Advanced Metrics
Intended Air Yards (aDot): McCarthy’s average intended air yards was 9.6, the highest in the NFL for the 2025 season, indicating he frequently targeted deep passes.
Accuracy Concerns: Despite the high aDot, his on-target percentage was 59.9%, the lowest among qualifying quarterbacks. This metric suggests significant accuracy issues across various throws.
Turnover-Worthy Plays: He was credited with 15 turnover-worthy plays according to PFF, while throwing 12 actual interceptions.
Pressure: McCarthy was pressured on 39.6% of his snaps, but his pressure-to-sack conversion rate was 23.5%.
QBR: His Total QBR was a low 35.7 (35th out of 43 QBs), reflecting overall disappointing performance relative to expectations in his first starting season after missing his 2024 rookie year due to injury.
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Question 2: how many top 25 drafted QBs that have played as poorly as mccarthy, ended up at least average statistically in latter years
Several highly drafted quarterbacks who started their careers with poor statistics similar to or worse than J.J. McCarthy’s 2025 season ultimately improved to become average or better NFL players. The success is not guaranteed, as the majority of highly drafted QBs who struggle early become busts, but there are notable examples of significant turnarounds.
Notable Quarterbacks Who Bounced Back
Peyton Manning: He led the league with 28 interceptions in his rookie season before becoming one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
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Josh Allen: Allen struggled with accuracy and a low completion percentage early in his career but developed into a perennial MVP candidate and elite dual-threat quarterback.
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Jared Goff: In his first season with the Rams, Goff had a worse completion percentage (53.5%) and passer rating (61.7) than McCarthy’s 2025 numbers, but eventually became a Pro Bowler and led a team to a Super Bowl, later revitalizing his career with the Lions.
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Steve Young: After a very poor start with the Buccaneers, Young became a Hall of Fame quarterback, winning multiple MVP awards and a Super Bowl with the 49ers.
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Drew Brees: Brees was considered average in college and struggled with the Chargers early in his career before becoming a Super Bowl champion and one of the most statistically productive QBs in NFL history.
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Geno Smith: After a rocky start with the Jets, Smith salvaged his career and had a Pro Bowl season with the Seahawks nearly a decade later.
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The Reality of Failure Rates
While comebacks are possible, historical data indicates a significant risk of failure for first-round QBs who struggle early. Over the last 15 years, only about 46% of first-round quarterbacks have been considered successful “hits”. Factors like the team’s supporting cast, coaching stability, and the amount of pressure a QB faces heavily influence their development.
McCarthy’s high rate of pressure (39.6% of snaps) and league-low on-target percentage (59.9%) highlight significant challenges, some of which may be situational. His ability to develop going forward will depend on both his personal improvement and the support he receives from the Minnesota Vikings organization.
Note: Our hope has to be that he is more like the Hall of Famers and Josh Allen. Goff and Smith had to go to other teams before “blooming”. Ugh!
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Question 3: How have NFL teams addressed struggles of high-round draft pick QBs?
NFL teams employ several strategies to address the struggles of highly drafted quarterbacks, ranging from providing a strong support system to, in some cases, quickly moving on from the player.
Development and Support Strategies
Building a Strong Supporting Cast: Successful teams prioritize surrounding their young QB with a solid offensive line and reliable offensive weapons to give them time and open targets. The Indianapolis Colts, for example, drafted Marvin Harrison Jr. to pair with their rookie QB, providing an elite receiving talent from the start.
Veteran Mentorship: Many teams have found success by allowing a rookie QB to sit behind an experienced veteran for a year or more, giving them time to learn the system and adapt to the speed of the NFL game without the pressure of immediate starting duty. Jordan Love’s development behind Aaron Rodgers is a recent example.
Tailored Coaching Plans: Coaches develop specific, multi-year plans for their young QBs, sometimes deliberately making training camp practices more challenging (e.g., using a 15-second play clock) to build resilience and force faster processing of information.
Simplified Schemes: Offensive coordinators often utilize simpler offensive schemes with RPOs (run-pass options) and quick throws early on to build the quarterback’s confidence and reduce the risk of complex decision-making leading to turnovers.
Organizational Responses to Continued Struggles
Patience vs. Urgency: Teams are often financially motivated to be patient, as cutting a top draft pick can result in significant dead cap money, though the 2011 rookie wage scale has made it easier to move on faster than in the past. General managers have about a three-to-four-year window to determine if a QB is their franchise player before they must make a long-term contract decision or risk their own job.
Coaching and System Changes: When a highly drafted QB struggles, the team may change the offensive coordinator or even the head coach, hoping a new system will better suit the player’s skills.
Trading or Releasing the Player: If a quarterback consistently underperforms despite support, teams will eventually trade them or not re-sign them after their rookie contract. This allows the QB a “second chance” with a new team and system, which has led to turnarounds for players like Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold.
The approach often depends on whether the organization believes the struggles are due to a lack of talent or a poor supporting environment, such as a bad offensive line or coaching.
The Senior Bowl is this week and practices start today
2026 Senior Bowl Official Measurements
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2026 Senior Bowl rosters: PFF grades, WAA, measurements and athletic percentiles
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https://steelersdepot.com/2026/01/2026-senior-bowl-primer-safeties/
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https://steelersdepot.com/2026/01/2026-senior-bowl-primer-wide-receivers/
I always like to see the actual measurements to get an idea about which schools do the most inflating.
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
Vikings Get Major Warning After Sam Darnold Reaches Super Bowl
On Nov. 30, 2024, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that Minnesota did make an offer to Darnold that closely mirrored Seattle’s proposal. The key difference was the commitment length. The Vikings’ offer was limited to one year, similar to the deal the Seahawks ultimately authorized, which featured a pay-as-you-go structure.
At present, the only guaranteed money beyond the current season in Darnold’s contract is a $17.5 million injury guarantee that does not convert into a full guarantee until after Super Bowl LX.
Minnesota, meanwhile, had already identified J.J. McCarthy as the quarterback of the future. That reality was clear, and it likely factored into Darnold’s decision to pursue an opportunity in Seattle.
Nonetheless, FOX Sports’ Jason McIntyre gave a major warning to Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell.
“The 2018 NFL draft quarterback class was loaded. Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, is the first quarterback from that class to get to the Super Bowl,” McIntyre said in a Jan. 26 video from FOX Sports Radio. “That’s stunning. I mean, you could argue that this is a massive indictment of the Minnesota Vikings front office, and they were all on the clock for bailing on Darnold for J. J. McCarthy.”
Yore Mock
Trade Partner: Seahawks
Sent: 1.18
Received: 1.32, 3.96, 6.211, 2027 3rd
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Trade Partner: Browns
Sent: 3.97
Received: 4.107, 5.139
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Pick 32 – Kayden McDonald DL Ohio State 6’3″ 326
Pick 49 – Gennings Dunker OT Iowa 6’5″ 315
Pick 82 – Zakee Wheatley S Penn State 6’2″ 202
Pick 96 – Keionte Scott CB Miami (FL) 6’0″ 194
Pick 107 – Emmett Johnson RB Nebraska 5’11” 200
Pick 139 – Ted Hurst WR Georgia State 6’3″ 185
Pick 161 – Eli Raridon TE Notre Dame 6’7″ 252
Pick 194 – Pat Coogan IOL Indiana 6’5″ 311
Pick 211 – James Thompson Jr DL Illinois 6’6″ 310
Pick 234 – Eric Gentry LB USC 6’6″ 225
Pick 240 – Eric O’Neill EDGE Rutgers 6’3″ 261
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Category: General Sports
