Who Should I Start? Nick Mullens or J.J. McCarthy

Monday, March 10, 4:55 PM

The Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to terms with free-agent quarterback Nick Mullens on Monday on a two-year, $6.5 million deal with $3 million guaranteed, a source told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Mullens will be the new backup to Trevor Lawrence in head coach Liam Coen's first year in Duvall. The 29-year-old Mullens will reunite with new Jaguars assistant coach Grant Udinski after the two worked together with the Minnesota Vikings. Mullens spent the last three years in Minnesota, appearing in 13 games (three starts) while throwing for 1,568 yards, eight touchdowns and nine interceptions. He only appeared in four games in relief last year with Sam Darnold having a career year. Mullens will provide veteran backup depth behind Lawrence, though, having appeared in 33 games (20 starts) in his seven years in the NFL with Minnesota, San Francisco and Cleveland.

Wednesday, May 7, 9:26 PM

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell didn't really acknowledge whether former first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) will face competition for the starting job in 2025. "J.J. is going to be in a great position to assume and ascend in our organization," O'Connell said on The Rich Eisen Show. "But right now, we really don't have any feelings on competition as much as we've got an obligation as coaches to put our players in position to attack that competition phase." Sam Howell and Brett Rypien are the other options in the QB room. O'Connell did say that McCarthy is "owning it" this offseason and will get plenty of reps with the starters. The 22-year-old missed his entire rookie season due to a torn meniscus in his right knee, but he's fully expected to be ready for the start of 2025. O'Connell said he's seen a difference in McCarthy's footwork, rhythm, timing and cadence from a year ago. The Vikes like him a lot, so he's expected to be the starter in Week 1, where he'll be a low-end QB2 in fantasy with upside.