Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy projected to lead NFL in brutal stat category

Ryan OLeary

•
Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy projected to lead NFL in brutal stat category image

Head coach Kevin O’Connell and the Minnesota Vikings managed quarterback Sam Darnold in two key areas last season: sacks and interceptions.

Per well-known ESPN prognosticator and analyst Mike Clay, O’Connell could have similar issues in 2025 with first-year starter J.J. McCarthy taking the reins.

Clay recently released his annual NFL projections for all 32 teams, and he has McCarthy standing alone in one unfavorable category for a young QB: interceptions.

Clay doesn’t only project McCarthy to throw a league-high 14 picks this season, but he landed him clearly ahead of the field. He has a bunch of rookie and veteran QBs tied for second with 12, including Darnold (now the starter for the Seattle Seahawks), Cam Ward, Anthony Richardson and Tyler Shough. 

This is a somewhat curious projection from Clay, as O’Connell has become known as one of the NFL’s QB whisperers, and turnovers were never an issue for McCarthy under former coach Jim Harbaugh at Michigan. McCarthy never had more than five INTs in a season, and only threw 12 over his three years and 713 total pass attempts as a Wolverine.

Clay projects a 15-game season to compensate for injuries and other factors that limit a player’s availability. For McCarthy, he predicts 3,705 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He also has McCarthy rushing for 206 yards and two additional scores.

📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp

Interceptions were an issue for Darnold in 2024, especially early in the season when he was picked off 10 times over his first nine starts. The Vikings and their former QB were able to adjust, however, as Darnold threw just three INTs from Week 11 on. 

McCarthy will take his first real NFL snaps in 2025, so we’ll see if the mental reps behind Darnold and fellow veteran Daniel Jones last season can work to his benefit.

MORE VIKINGS NEWS:

Ryan OLeary

Ryan O'Leary has spent his entire professional career in sports multimedia, working as journalist, editor, podcaster, and in live events as a content manager and show emcee. His career highlights include working as a podcast host and audio editor for USA TODAY Sports Media Group, where he led a series of NFL podcasts for the company’s top-performing NFL sites. A born and raised New Englander, Ryan’s career kicked-off in newspapers after graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in journalism. He developed an affinity for small-town youth, high school and college sports, while also realizing his childhood dream of covering the Patriots in multiple AFC Championship Games. Ryan enjoys kicking it with family and friends, beating his dad and brother in chess, and arguing with anyone crazy enough to insist that Tom Brady isn’t the GOAT.