NFL Draft analyst names Vikings rookie J.J. McCarthy his darkhorse for Offensive Rookie of the Year

After sharing which player we believed was the favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year, we were tasked with giving a darkhorse candidate. My answer was Vikings rookie QB J.J. McCarthy (13:22 timestamp), and here is part of my reason why: 

"If McCarthy can't win this job over Sam Darnold, the Vikings have bigger issues than they realize right now. So, I view McCarthy as playing fairly early into his career. I think he's probably going into the 2nd, if not the best, offensive situation of any of the rookie QBs this season. I think J.J. McCarthy has a lot of talent around him in Minnesota, I think that roster is ready to win games. So if that team goes out and competes in the NFC North this year even, and he's the starting QB and takes care of the football like he did at Michigan, I could see him walking away with the award." 

McCarthy winning this award would undoubtedly shock most NFL fans. But if he wins the starting QB job early in Minnesota and helps lead them to the playoffs, I think it's a more likely scenario than people realize. With fellow rookie QBs Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and Bo Nix also likely starting sometime this year, it won't be easy, but don't count him out.