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Kurt Warner is not ready to give up on JJ McCarthy despite growing concerns about the Minnesota Vikings quarterback entering his second NFL season. Warner believes McCarthy remains a developmental prospect who deserves more time before the league makes a final judgment on his potential. McCarthy entered the NFL with significant expectations after Minnesota selected him early in the 2024 draft, but his development has not followed the straightforward path many anticipated. His rookie season was lost to injury, leaving him with limited experience before taking on a larger role and facing the pressure that comes with being viewed as the Vikings’ potential long-term answer. Warner acknowledged that McCarthy had weaknesses coming out of college and suggested he may have been selected earlier than his evaluation warranted. However, the Hall of Fame quarterback believes those concerns should not automatically lead to the conclusion that McCarthy cannot become a successful professional quarterback. The preseason has provided additional evidence for both sides of the argument. McCarthy has displayed the arm talent and big-play ability that made him an intriguing prospect, but inconsistent throws and familiar mechanical and decision-making issues have continued to raise questions about whether he is ready to handle an NFL offense consistently. NFL Icon Kurt Warner Shares His Take on Minnesota Vikings’ JJ McCarthy Warner made his thoughts about McCarthy’s preseason performance known. This can be seen in a pair of posts he made on his official X account. Cmon… he’s been in the league for a year and he was a project coming out IMO! Give the kid a chance to get better… but if 2 years from now he is same guy, I would be with you! — Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) August 23, 2026 I simply think he’s not ready! I saw faults coming out of college – prob drafted too high based on it – and now we expect him to be something he’s never shown! He has to get better & needs time to do it! — Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) August 23, 2026 Warner’s position is essentially one of patience, particularly because McCarthy has yet to accumulate enough professional experience to determine his long-term ceiling. Rather than expecting him to immediately become the player Minnesota envisioned when it drafted him, Warner believes the young quarterback needs time, coaching and opportunities to correct the weaknesses that remain in his game. That patience, however, does have a limit, according to Warner, who indicated that another two years without meaningful improvement would change his assessment. For now, the former NFL star believes McCarthy deserves the opportunity to develop, making the upcoming season an important stage in determining whether the quarterback can turn his potential into consistent production.