Minnesota Vikings sign first-round picks J.J. McCarthy, Dallas Turner
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings' presumed quarterback of the future and would-be No. 1 pass rusher have signed their rookie contracts.
The Vikings announced Sunday that QB J.J. McCarthy and edge rusher Dallas Turner signed their contracts shortly after arriving at training camp.
On Friday morning, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the details of McCarthy's contract. The Vikings' No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft signed a fully guaranteed, four-year contract with the team. Schefter says the contract is worth nearly $22 million, with a $12.7 million signing bonus. There's also a fifth-year option.
McCarthy, 21, is coming off a national championship win with Michigan, but he didn't have to do much as a passer to get there. He threw for just 2,991 yards, 22 touchdowns and four interceptions all season.
His NFL.com scouting profile notes a lot of intangibles — "He is confident and seems to have the ability to take slights and digest it as competitive fuel" — but does highlight concerns about his physical ability.
"McCarthy should continue to improve as a passer, but he fails to stand out in many of the areas that tend to be predictive of top-level success in the NFL," the profile reads.
Kirk Cousins, the Vikings' starter for the past six seasons, signed with the Atlanta Falcons in free agency earlier this offseason. Minnesota signed Sam Darnold to a one-year deal after Cousins walked.
Darnold is expected to start for most, if not all, of the season while McCarthy develops.
Minnesota traded with the Jacksonville Jaguars from pick No. 23 to No. 17 to select edge rusher Turner, who played for Alabama and was the 2023 SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
