When the Minnesota Vikings selected quarterback J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick, the countdown began until he became the starting quarterback.
There are different approaches that the Vikings can take with McCarthy's development. You can take the approach of playing him right away and let McCarthy learn on the fly. That is the approach that the Indianapolis Colts took with Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck. They turned out pretty well.
On the other hand, you could let him sit for a year or an indeterminate amount of time. Patrick Mahomes massively benefitted from sitting for a year due to the offense and style he played at Texas Tech. The difference with McCarthy is that he played in a pro-style offense with very similar concepts to what Kevin O'Connell will be running.
The big question here is this: when will the Vikings start McCarthy? There are a few logical points in the season that make sense
Best games for Vikings to give J.J. McCarthy first start
1. Week 7 vs Detroit Lions
Going up against the Lions for your first game doesn't seem too ideal since they are the reigning NFC North champions. However, it does make sense since the game is both at home and right after the bye. Having two weeks for McCarthy to get ready for his first start feels like the most likely game for his first start.
2. Week 9 vs Indianapolis Colts
The Colts game is one that also makes sense for the same reasons listed above. In week eight, the Vikings play against the Los Angeles Rams on the road in a Thursday night game. With the Colts at home coming off of a 10 day break, that would give McCarthy time to prepare and get ready.
3. Week 13 vs Arizona Cardinals
13 games into the season would be a little bit of a surprise to see McCarthy get his first start, but it is right after a three-game road trip and the beginning of a three-game homestand. Also, the Cardinals aren't projected to be a very strong team going into the 2024 season, which could give McCarthy an easier opponent for his first game.
4. Week 1 at New York Giants
This is the only road game on the list and it's also the first game of the season. If McCarthy ends up earning the starting job out of training camp, then he's ready for the rigors of the regular season. It would be okay to start him right away. That should only be done if he's ready to go.