When Kirk Cousins packed his bags for Atlanta, Kevin O’Connell didn’t exactly throw a fit. Instead, he shrugged with a cold dose of reality: “Sometimes things just don’t work out.” But underneath it, the Vikings were already bracing for life after Cousins. No panic, no public regret — just a quiet understanding that a new era had to start, whether they were ready or not.

And it worked out well for the Vikes. That, too, with Sam Darnold! Who would have thought about that? A 14-3 finish to the season. 2nd in the NFC North. Losing the wild card game to the Rams. Not bad, eh?

Fast-forward to draft week, and the Vikings are picking up the pieces methodically. Step one? Make sure the future is secure with J.J. McCarthy. Step two? Make sure the rookie’s not tossed into the NFL fire without some insulation. That’s where Sam Howell comes in.

Minnesota traded a pair of mid-round picks (No. 142 and 172) to Seattle to snag Howell, a move Kevin O’Connell confirmed Saturday as part of their broader quarterback reset. McCarthy’s the big plan. Howell’s the insurance policy.

Howell’s journey has been anything but linear. Drafted in the fifth round by Washington in 2022, he spent his rookie year mostly learning on the sidelines. Then 2023 hit — and Howell found himself throwing more passes than anyone in football. Sometimes they found his receivers. Other times…not so much.

Howell led the league in sacks taken and interceptions, flashing enough talent to intrigue, but enough chaos to scare off the Commanders, who moved on. A year riding shotgun behind Geno Smith in Seattle didn’t change much. Opportunity never knocked.

Now, he’s in Minnesota, where Kevin O’Connell’s quarterback-friendly system might just offer the second act Howell’s been hoping for. With McCarthy soaking up starter reps, Howell’s presence gives the Vikings a little breathing room — and O’Connell a project worth having in the wings. “Complete alignment” was the phrase O’Connell used when describing the front office’s approach post-Cousins. So far, their quarterback plan looks exactly that.

Kevin O’Connell’s vision is clear on JJ McCarthy

If there was ever a doubt about the Vikings’ quarterback future, Kevin O’Connell just punted it straight into the stands. Standing under the Florida sun at the NFL’s Annual League Meeting, O’Connell didn’t just sound positive about J.J. McCarthy—he sounded all-in. “He knows a lot of the core principles of our offense now,” O’Connell said.

Not bad for a kid who spent last season stuck in a headset after that brutal preseason knee injury. You could almost see it—McCarthy, sitting there, hearing the same play calls over and over again until it seeped into his bloodstream. “Now he gets to learn it [again] from the very beginning,” O’Connell added.

For a guy who’s been around the block, O’Connell didn’t sugarcoat it: the Vikings aren’t just teaching from where they left off. They’re ripping it back down to the studs, grassroots-style. Smart money says McCarthy’s about to be way more than just a name on the roster come September.

He didn’t just keep McCarthy in the loop, he prayed that his young gun recovers from his knee injury while Darnold bought the Vikes a good year. So, now, the foundation’s there for JJ to come in and cook. Along with weapons like Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, and even new additions like Jonathan Greenard.

And if you’re still wondering how strongly O’Connell feels about J.J. McCarthy? Let’s just say he wasn’t throwing compliments around lightly. “I feel very good about projecting a really positive year for J.J.,” he said. No guarantees, sure—it’s March, not October—but you could tell by his voice. He’s betting on what he’s seen behind closed doors. In short: the Vikings flirted with the idea of a legendary name (ahem, Aaron Rodgers…). Cool. But they’re building something real with McCarthy. Long-term over another one year goodness.