Caleb Williams wasn’t the only 1st round quarterback to join the NFC North division this year. The Minnesota Vikings selected JJ McCarthy 10th overall. The Michigan standout went 27-1 during his college career, winning a national title last season. Minnesota believes he can be the long-term replacement for Kirk Cousins. His championship pedigree may also finally get them back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1976. Then again, he will have to go a reinvigorate division to get there, including the Chicago Bears.
The NFL is not college. While football fans can always talk trash, the pro level is a different beast compared to what he saw in Ann Arbor. They come at you from all angles, nowhere more so than social media. It seems one Bears fan decided to give him a taste of things to come. McCarthy, like most other 1st picks, attended a photo shoot for the NFLPA. He went through some basic throws to give people a look at him in full uniform. That was went @CHITOWNDREW23 struck.
He succeeded at Michigan by being an outstanding game manager. He made good decisions, protected the football, and moved the sticks when needed. The running game and defense did the rest. That type of offense won’t fly in the NFL. Minnesota will need him to throw the football a lot more often, especially with how their current offense is constructed. Will that be a problem? McCarthy had four games in his college career where he threw 33 or more passes in a game, which is the league average. He had five touchdowns and three interceptions across that span. Teams are certain that he can carry a team on his right arm, which is why he was the fifth quarterback taken.
Maybe he will become a consummate winner in the NFL as well. Then again, winning a national title in college guarantees nothing at this level. Mac Jones, Jameis Winston, Vince Young, and Matt Leinart can all attest to that. JJ McCarthy comes in with a lot to prove and plenty of people eager to test him. The Bears defense is among them. They are among the best in the league once again, with a secondary that is difficult to attack. If he’s not careful, that video may end up being a warning from the future.
