Justin Jefferson is arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL, and he was paid accordingly this offseason when he signed a four-year deal worth $140 million with $110 million guaranteed. That’s an insane amount, but you can’t say he’s not worth every penny of it considering the player he’s become.

Signing Jefferson is a huge deal for the Minnesota Vikings. But their quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​also had to sign with the Atlanta Falcons in the offseason. Losing Cousins ​​is a huge deal.

Minnesota drafted its long-term replacement, JJ McCarthy, but Sam Darnold has long been the favorite for the Vikings’ quarterback position. While Vikings fans may not want to see that, Jefferson’s comments explain why that might be the case.

When asked what the difference was between playing with Darnold and McCarthy, Jefferson responded:

“They’re both different types of quarterbacks,” Jefferson said, h/t Sports Illustrated. “Sam is more of a veteran quarterback, he likes to touch the ball here and there, he knows what speed to throw the ball and how to throw it. JJ is still young and just wants to keep going. (He) has that strong arm and wants to keep going.”

Jefferson knows McCarthy, a player Minnesota just drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft, has talent. He praised McCarthy’s strong arm and desire to use it. Jefferson’s problem, however, is that McCarthy doesn’t seem to have the same instincts as Darnold and other veterans.

McCarthy can be as talented as he wants, but if he’s not ready to play in the NFL, he just isn’t. Sooner or later, he’ll learn that he doesn’t have to throw the ball as hard and far to be successful in the NFL. While Darnold hasn’t shown much in his time as a starter in the NFL, Jefferson believes he knows how to get the ball to his receivers more efficiently.

“I’m always working with him,” Jefferson said. “If it’s not on the field, it’s after practice. He asks me different questions about what I’m looking at or how I can read the plays better during practice. He’s always asking me questions and always trying to learn in any way he can.”

While Darnold may be better prepared for the NFL right now, McCarthy is desperate to get better and is working as hard as he can with Jefferson to improve, which is great to see.

McCarthy has a ton of potential and will one day be the Vikings’ starting quarterback. That could even happen this season. However, there’s a reason he probably won’t begin the 2024 season as a starter. It’s more likely he’ll start as the team’s third-stringer, a possibility outlined by ESPN’s Dan Graziano (subscription required).

“The Vikings want McCarthy’s first-team appearances in training camp to be a surprise to him – so he gets used to the idea of ​​having to jump into the game right away and listening to coach Kevin O’Connell call a play he didn’t really want to make,” Graziano wrote. “Part of the reason they’re doing this is to figure out if McCarthy is ready to be Darnold’s primary backup when the season starts, or if they need to keep Nick Mullens in that role.”

McCarthy will get a chance to prove himself in the preseason, and Jefferson will surely be on the field with him at some point. Perhaps his opinion will change after seeing him in the game. For now, it’s up to McCarthy to show that he adapts to the NFL level. Everyone knows he’s talented. As we’ve seen even with Darnold, it takes more than talent to succeed at the NFL level, especially as a quarterback. Eventually he’ll get there, but maybe not until the start of the regular season, which isn’t the end of the world.