Does J.J. McCarthy missing the start of training camp doom his starting chances?

When the Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy out of Michigan, they were getting a reigning National Champion quarterback and the future of their franchise. Fast-forward nearly three months, and as training camp looms, McCarthy has yet to sign his rookie deal.

A few years ago, the NFL and NFLPA included in one of their collective bargaining agreements a tight window for teams and picks to sign contracts. Before that agreement, the amount of money tossed around to top picks is something we only see in free agency today.

What this all means for J.J. McCarthy is complex. He will still report to camp on Sunday when all other rookies do, but he will not participate in any activities because his deal is not signed. The talk all Summer has been, “When are we going to see McCarthy start?” If he misses any valuable time in camp, the answer could shift to “2025.”

The team has been adamant in saying they have a checklist of sorts for McCarthy to complete before he can start. They have Sam Darnold signed, who has been around all Summer as well, so they could shift to him as the guy for 2025 if significant time is missed.

A deal will get done, and that isn’t anyone’s worry. What should be a cause for concern is if this drags on for days or weeks. Then we have to ask what it means for his 2024 season and what it could do to the Vikings.