Latest Vikings news signals Minnesota is putting all their chips into the J.J. McCarthy era before it begins

The Minnesota Vikings kicked off training camp on Tuesday, but as if that wasn't enough excitement for the fanbase, the team went bigger.

Securing LT Christian Darrisaw way ahead of schedule via a four-year contract extension, the team has now locked down two franchise pillars with Justin Jefferson and Darrisaw.

In doing so, the Vikings have proved to the rest of the league they are all in on J.J. McCarthy before he takes his first snap.

Darrisaw set for the long haul

One of the best up and coming tackles in the league, the recently turned 25-year-old has yet to receive Pro Bowl or All-Pro accolades, but Darrisaw has been nothing short of terrific as a pass protector.

That was evidenced by him earning a remarkable 82.4 PFF grade , the third highest among any LT in the league last season.

A QB, but especially a rookie one, is only as good as two things surrounding him: His protection, and his playcalling. Minnesota has now solidified the former, and we have two years of evidence to suggest the latter (HC Kevin O'Connell) is on the rise as one of the best offensive architects in the league.

A former QB in his own right, O'Connell has studied under generational head coaches like Bill Belichick and Sean McVay, helping make Minnesota an attractive landing spot for McCarthy.

"It was the way [O'Connell] presents the install," McCarthy told ESPN's Kevin Seifert after being drafted by the Vikings."The way he compartmentalizes everything about how to look at this play individually and how to make it more relatable to what your knowledge is and how you can smoothly and efficiently step into this playbook...

"...That was something that was truly unique because you go around to so many defensive coaches like [Washington's] Dan Quinn and [New England's] Jerod Mayo, and being able to have that relationship as former QB and current QB, it's truly special and it means a lot."

Football relationships work best when the QB and play-caller have a lot in common. But the best offensive head coaches rarely played actual snaps in the NFL. Think of Andy Reid, Mike McDaniel, Kyle Shanahan, and Sean Mcvay.

None have live reps like KOC.

That experience is going to be invaluable for McCarthy, and the Vikings firmly believe they can capitalize on his rookie contract with moves like Darrisaw.

So while the NFC North looks to be competitive for the foreseeable future, Minnesota obviously likes their chances.

Related: Vikings take care of some important business with LT Christian Darrisaw way ahead of schedule