The 2025 NFL preseason is now in full swing, with rookies getting the chance to see much needed game action against opposing NFL teams. The regular season provides many storylines involving several key rookies. Jacksonville Jaguars’ rookie Travis Hunter is one rookie in the NFL spotlight. He’s looking to become the first player in NFL history to excel at playing both offense and defense. Cleveland Browns’ quarterback Shedeur Sanders is looking for redemption after his draft status slid from being a first round selection to being a fifth round selection. He completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in the Browns’ preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers.
Las Vegas Raiders’ running back Ashton Jeanty was selected sixth in the 2025 NFL draft. The Raiders are hoping that Jeanty will solidify the running back position after the departure of three time Pro Bowl running back Josh Jacobs to the Green Bay Packers after the 2023 season. Jeanty rushed for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns at Boise State University in 2024. He had a forgettable preseason debut against the Seattle Seahawks, carrying the ball three times for negative two yards.
Lost in the rookie class of 2025 is quarterback Cam Ward. The Tennessee Titans selected Ward with the first overall pick in the draft. Ward will replace veteran quarterback Will Levis as the starter in 2025. He will be given time to get acclimated with the offense and grow into the position as the Titans, who finished 3-14 in 2024, are in rebuilding mode.
There isn’t intense pressure for Hunter, Sanders, and Ward to improve their respective team’s fortunes immediately. The one rookie that isn’t mentioned that is expected to step in and perform at a high level is Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy was actually drafted by the Vikings in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. The Vikings had visions of McCarthy becoming their franchise quarterback. However, he suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee during Minnesota’s first preseason game that season. As a result, McCarthy missed the entire 2024 season. McCarthy’s absence would make 2025 his rookie season by default.
The Vikings still managed to post a 14-3 regular season record with veteran quarterback Sam Darnold as the starter. Only two teams defeated Minnesota in 2024. The Detroit Lions swept the two game series against Minnesota. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Vikings 30-20 in Week Eight of the regular season and also beat Minnesota 27-9 in the 2024 NFC Wild Card playoff round. Darnold passed for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions as the Vikings’ full time starter last year. It can be reasoned that Darnold’s 2024 season earned him the right to remain Minnesota’s starting quarterback in 2025.
Darnold had different plans, and it’s easy to see why those plans changed. He signed a three year, $100.5 million dollar contract with the Seattle Seahawks. It was understood that Darnold was only a temporary starter with Minnesota, holding the position until McCarthy returned from injury. McCarthy is the undisputed starter in Minnesota, and is expected to maintain the Vikings’ offensive efficiency from a year ago. Success could be hard to come by for the Vikings, as they are in the NFC North, arguably the NFL’s toughest division. The NFC North saw the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers join the Vikings in last year’s playoffs. And the Chicago Bears are looking to improve with their hiring of former Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to become their head football coach. Johnson was instrumental in anchoring a Lions’ prolific offense that produced an NFL best 15-2 regular season record in 2024. Chicago expects Johnson to continue to develop quarterback Caleb Williams, who was the number one overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
McCarthy has a tough road ahead of him. But he has a great wide receiver group led by Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. McCarthy also has a great running back in Aaron Jones, who rushed for over 1100 yards last season. Factor in the efficiency that tight end T.J. Hockenson provides, and McCarthy has more than enough help to maintain offensive proficiency. It’s storylines like this this that will make for another exciting NFL season.