From J.J. McCarthy's arm to Sam Darnold's accuracy, 11 observations from Vikings OTAs (2024)

EAGAN, Minn. — Unsurprisingly, superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson is not in Minnesota for the Vikings’ organized team activities this week. But don’t fret.

Jefferson did not attend last year’s voluntary OTAs, either. The Vikings and his representatives have yet to agree on what will assuredly be a record-breaking contract extension. The first departure from the norm could come if Jefferson misses the mandatory minicamp from June 4 to 6.

Without him, the on-field action was still interesting. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah monitored the activity Tuesday afternoon on the 50-yard line of the team’s indoor facility. Head coach Kevin O’Connell orchestrated the drills, while defensive coordinator Brian Flores was absent to attend the NFL’s Accelerator program.

What stood out? What was interesting? Here are 11 observations and thoughts:

• Offensive coordinator Wes Phillips complimented rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s absorption of the system. McCarthy, Phillips said, arrives at the TCO Performance Center each morning having studied the previous day’s installation and more. He also highlighted McCarthy’s arm talent.

“You see the juice that got when he lets go of the football,” Phillips said.

The J.J. McCarthy video you’ve all been waiting for. pic.twitter.com/Cb2N1pBhCl

— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) May 21, 2024

McCarthy lasered passes throughout Tuesday’s session. He drilled receiver Lucky Jackson on a dig route over the middle. He hummed a corner route to Jalen Nailor near the sideline. Once, he held his eyes downfield, couldn’t identify an open receiver, rolled to his right like he was in a scramble drill and hurled a ball downfield toward receiver Trent Sherfield.

Pitching coaches often use the term: “The ball explodes out of his hand.” The same cliche applies to McCarthy, whose ball spirals so tightly through the air you almost expect flames to flow from behind. He generates his velocity with efficient mechanics and a fluid motion. If anything, the Vikings will have to monitor the torque on his arm.

• Sam Darnold participated in workouts Tuesday for the first time since he signed with the Vikings. He played with the first-team offense, throwing most of the reps in seven-on-seven periods. His ball did not zip through the air the way McCarthy’s did, but Darnold placed the ball accurately. He layered one pass over a flat defender to Nailor, who leaped, spun in the air, snagged the ball and toe-tapped before falling out of bounds.

• About a half-hour before the NFL Draft’s first round, O’Connell informed Darnold of the team’s plans. It was all but obvious the Vikings were going to select a quarterback, but Minnesota wanted to keep Darnold in the loop. He accepted the news positively, even feeling like he could help mentor the potential draftee considering his own background.

Darnold first met McCarthy at Target Center for Game 4 of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ NBA playoff series against the Denver Nuggets.

“We got to chat a little bit there,” Darnold said, “and I was, like, ‘First of all, dude, congratulations on getting drafted. It’s a great experience, and I know it flies by.’ But he’s been great. And he continues to learn.”

McCarthy has asked him countless questions inside the quarterback room in recent days, and Darnold has responded willingly and openly. The more he can share, he feels, the better.

Darnold was asked if there are any elements to a quarterback’s introduction to the NFL that go under the radar in terms of importance. Darnold responded by mentioning a quarterback’s environment: the coaches, the skill players, the system and the vibes within the quarterback room.

“It totally depends on the situation, the organization and the guys in the locker room,” Darnold said. “It’s about what is surrounding that quarterback, especially as a high draft pick.”

• Nailor’s catch on the sideline may have been the most impressive play of the afternoon. His athleticism is undeniable. It’s why the Vikings staff was buzzing about the 2022 sixth-round pick last year around this time.

With Jefferson absent, Nailor, Jordan Addison and Brandon Powell saw the majority of the snaps with the No. 1 unit. Nailor remains an intriguing option if he can stay healthy; a lower-leg injury ended his training camp early last year, and a concussion sidelined him for the final five weeks of the season.

• Running back burst is easy to notice, and Aaron Jones displayed it in spades Tuesday, sidestepping his way through the interior of the offensive line and jump-cutting his way past tacklers. Alexander Mattison lacked high-end explosiveness, but the Vikings thought his efficiency could keep the offense ticking. Jones’ leadership will be important for Ty Chandler, whom the Vikings staff remains high on after last year’s finish.

The Vikings aren’t planning to overhaul their run schemes with Jones aboard.

“I think you just get as many good players as you can, then figure it out from there,” Phillips said.

• When did potential Hall of Fame safety Harrison Smith decide to come back?

“Probably a few days before free agency,” Smith said.

He hadn’t thought much about football for months. Then one day, while helping his brother renovate his house, he glanced at the television and noticed a note on the ESPN ticker about NFL free agency. He then contacted his agent, who got the ball rolling on an altered deal.

What does he think about this team?

“People outside of here aren’t expecting as much of us as we are of ourselves,” Smith said. “I think we have the makings of some good things.”

Keep working 😤 pic.twitter.com/xgrCN2FM6P

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) May 22, 2024

• Minnesota invited veteran tight end Robert Tonyan for a workout last week. He glided across the field, snatched passes out of the air and impressed in conversations about his responsibilities on the field.

“It was one of those workouts where you just looked around and said, ‘Yeah, like, let’s get him,'” Phillips said. “I think he’s really going to help us.”

Tonyan, 30, caught 53 passes in 2022 for the Green Bay Packers. Tight end T.J. Hockenson is rehabbing a torn ACL and MCL and might miss time. While the Vikings believe in Josh Oliver and Johnny Mundt, Tonyan’s pass-catching ability gives O’Connell another weapon if needed.

• Edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel attended Tuesday’s workouts, but, like Hockenson, he did not participate. Van Ginkel, a free-agent signing from the Miami Dolphins, is recovering from a foot injury suffered in the 2023 regular-season finale. The Vikings hope he is healthy for training camp.

• Special teams coordinator Matt Daniels admitted punter Ryan Wright had “somewhat of a sophom*ore slump” in his second season. Wright ranked 33rd among 33 qualified punters in the percentage of punts pinned inside the opponent’s 10-yard line.

“He led the league in the highest touchback percentage,” Daniels said. “Whereas in Year 1, he led the league.”

Daniels, assistant special teams coordinator Dalmin Gibson and teammates like Pro Bowl long snapper Andrew DePaola communicated with Wright about the need for growth. Wright appeared slimmed down. He is likely to have competition, too, as free-agent signee Seth Vernon pounded a handful of punts.

• There were few surprises in terms of how the Vikings lined up. When the first-team defense took the field, cornerbacks Shaq Griffin and Akayleb Evans manned the outside spots, while Byron Murphy Jr. slid inside to the slot. When the Vikings split up into a more advanced group and development group, Mekhi Blackmon competed with the starters, while safety Lewis Cine and cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. operated on the other side of the field.

• Four under-the-radar players worth keeping your eyes on after Tuesday’s showing? Safety Theo Jackson, wide receiver Trishton Jackson, wide receiver Lucky Jackson and undrafted free-agent edge rusher Gabriel Murphy.

When starting safety Cam Bynum skipped reps, Jackson filled in, essentially serving as the No. 4 safety.

Standing next to first-round pick Dallas Turner, Murphy looked the part. His body type is more imposing at this point than Andre Carter II.

(Photo: Abbie Parr / Associated Press)

Alec Lewis is a staff writer covering the Minnesota Vikings for The Athletic. He grew up in Birmingham, Ala., and has written for Yahoo, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Kansas City Star, among many other places. Follow Alec on Twitter @alec_lewis