WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Kevin O’Connell pulled up a chair in the courtyard of a swanky hotel adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean.
It marked the first time O’Connell has spoken to local reporters about an offseason that has — for better or for worse — been completely overshadowed by Aaron Rodgers rumors despite the fact the Vikings massively improved their roster via a $300 million spending spree.
Asked about the elephant in the room Monday morning at the NFL Owners Meetings, O’Connell confirmed that he has talked to Rodgers before immediately shifting the focus to the future face of the franchise, whom the Vikings selected with the No. 10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
“We’ve had a quarterback plan in place with J.J. McCarthy and we really like where he’s at in that journey,” O’Connell said. “That’s kind of where we left things and very much looking forward to what’s to come.”
The most interesting nugget O’Connell offered up in regards to Rodgers specifically was that the future Hall of Fame quarterback actually reached out to the Vikings about potentially playing for them.
Not the other way around.
It’s also worth noting O’Connell said he kept McCarthy in the loop “almost borderline in real time” about any sort of communication he was having with Rodgers. It was extremely important to O’Connell that he was open and honest with everybody involved.
“We were able to have some conversations on the hunt to always improve our football team,” O’Connell said. “You’re constantly acknowledging and evaluating all of the opportunities that may be out there.”
Ultimately, the Vikings decided to move forward with McCarthy’s progression as the primary focus.
“I feel really, really positive about the path we’re going to take,” O’Connell said. “It’s a responsibility for me as the playcaller to make sure I’m building that rapport in addition to demanding a standard of the position from a very early time here with J.J.”
That process of the Vikings finding out where exactly McCarthy is from a developmental standpoint starts this spring when players return to TCO Performance Center for organized team activities.
That will be a big step for McCarthy, considering he hasn’t practiced with his teammates since last summer when he suffered a torn meniscus during an exhibition game between the Vikings and the Las Vegas Raiders.
It should help matters that the Vikings have done everything in their power in free agency to put McCarthy in the best position to succeed by signing Ryan Kelly and Will Fries to fortify the trenches on the offensive end and signing Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave to add more disruptors on defense.
It’s not hard to envision McCarthy stepping into the spotlight and immediately having success. That’s a big reason the Vikings decided to table discussions with Rodgers in the present as they set their sights on the future.
“Now we’ve got to go to work and do it,” O’Connell said. “Talking about it in March and April doesn’t do a whole lot.”
