Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh had an inkling about where his former quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, would end up during the NFL Draft on Thursday night.
When asked about the Minnesota Vikings selecting McCarthy with the 10th overall pick, Harbaugh confirmed that this was exactly where McCarthy had hoped to be.
“That’s where he wanted to go,” Harbaugh said. “He had his heart set on it, and I’m just so happy for him. I love him like a son, and I was praying and pulling for it to work out the way he wanted. The stars aligned, and congratulations to Minnesota—they got themselves a great player.”
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With the Vikings having recently seen Kirk Cousins sign a hefty four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons in free agency, McCarthy is poised to be their next starting quarterback. Should McCarthy not be ready by Week 1, the Vikings might turn to Sam Darnold to start the season.
Harbaugh, who coached McCarthy for three seasons at Michigan, watched him grow significantly during that time. Under his guidance, McCarthy helped lead Michigan to a national championship this past season, throwing for 2,991 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Looking ahead, McCarthy is set to connect with Justin Jefferson and the rest of the Vikings receiving corps starting this September.
