J.J. McCarthy hasn’t even stepped on to an NFL field yet, and he is already being touted as a bust by some. The Minnesota Vikings quarterback was the fifth QB selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, taken at No. 10 overall. McCarthy has yet to take a snap in the NFLGettyBut the former Michigan star was sidelined with a torn meniscus sustained in pre-season that kept him out of the Vikings’ entire 2024 campaign. Now set for his de facto rookie season, McCarthy is expected to take the reins as the starting quarterback with last year’s starter Sam Darnold having departed to the Seattle Seahawks in free agency. Bleacher Report recently released a list predicting every team’s potential bust of the 2025 season, and experts predicted McCarthy to be the most likely for Minnesota. “The Vikings aren’t about to ditch McCarthy if he plays at a below-average level in 2025,” Kristopher Knox of BR wrote. “Yet, the former Wolverine is going to face sky-high expectations in what is essentially his inaugural campaign. “Minnesota won 14 games with Sam Darnold last season, then allowed Darnold to depart in free agency in order to hand the keys to McCarthy.“Add the injury to the fact that McCarthy was never viewed as an elite prospect – the B/R Scouting Department ranked him 33rd overall on its final 2024 board – and it’s not hard to envision McCarthy experiencing his fair share of growing pains this season.”The talented 22-year-old enjoyed three seasons at Michigan working under now-Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh.There he threw for 6,226 total yards, 49 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, whilst completing 67.6 percent of his passes. But McCarthy’s breakout season came during his junior year, where he threw for 2,991 yards and completed 72.3 percent of his passes – both career-highs – as well as recording 22 touchdown passes to just four total interceptions.McCarthy led the Michigan Wolverines to the CFB Championship in 2023GettyDarnold, who led the Vikings to 14 wins in 2024, is no longer on the teamGettyMcCarthy is set to take over a ready-made Vikings offenseGettyHe also led the Wolverines to the College Football Championship, where they put on a dominant display and handed Washington a crushing 34-13 defeat.McCarthy’s winning pedigree and physical attributes, such as his strong arm and athleticism, are likely partially what led the Vikings to draft him. Despite Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and Michael Penix Jr. all coming off the draft board before him, ESPN experts and former NFL players Dan Orlovsky and Damien Woody have favored McCarthy over the Chicago Bears’ 2024 first overall pick, though only because of his situational environment. “I’ve said this. I truly believe that J.J. McCarthy is gonna go for 30-plus touchdowns and 4,000 yards,” former QB Orlovsky said on Monday’s episode of Get Up, via Yahoo! Sports. “It’s a custom-fit offense for him, it has been since the moment Minnesota selected him. “It’s the best play-caller slash offensive line plus wide receiver combination probably in the NFL, and if he’s average his stats will be very similar to what Sam Darnold did last year. I think he’s going to have a phenomenal season.”ESPN experts are taking McCarthy over Chicago Bears QB Caleb WilliamsGettyVikings WR duo Jefferson and Addison offer McCarthy starpower to throw toGettyMcCarthy is touted to be a bust, despite being on a SB-contending teamGettyFurthermore, Woody, who played as a center during his time in the league, hails the coaching infrastructure in Minnesota as an integral reason why McCarthy will thrive in the NFL. “His infrastructure is outstanding in Minnesota, play caller, head coach, all of that. It’s all right there,” Woody said. “And on top of that, you know what he’s going to do? He’s going to play with timing and rhythm. I know I’m going to get that out of him.” With Darnold under center, the Vikings exceeded all expectations last season, with the team having finished the regular season with a 14-3 record. This was only bettered by the Kansas City Chiefs and the Vikings’ NFC North division rivals, the Detroit Lions. However, their season came to a cruel end after they were blown out by the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. But, with Minnesota having bolstered their offensive line for 2025 by adding Ryan Kelly and Will Fries in the off-season, as well as drafting Donovan Jackson out of Ohio State with the 24th overall pick, there is no shortage of protection for their signal-caller. Furthermore, with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and TJ Hockenson, as well as Aaron Jones in the backfield alongside him, McCarthy has elite offensive weapons all over the field that could inflict total devastation onto opposition defenses on any given night. Though their offense takes most of the headlines, their defense led by Brian Flores and spearheaded by Jonathan Greenard, Andrew van Ginkel, and Blake Cashman isn’t exactly dilapidated either. As a result of their roster construction that is considered quarterback-proof, the Vikings are very much considered dark horses for the Super Bowl despite McCarthy’s lack of pro experience under center, according to ESPN’s Ben Solak. “There are two teams that could reasonably project as having the best offensive line and the best defense for the 2025 season: Minnesota and Denver,” Solak wrote. “As such, Minnesota and Denver register as “Super Bowl dark horses” on my “What sort of contender are you?” scale before I even know anything about their respective young quarterbacks.”Stay up to date with the latest from the NFL across all platforms – follow our NFL Facebook page, subscribe to our talkSPORT End Zone YouTube channel for all the offseason news, interviews and more.