Shannon Sharpe takes issue with Vikings amid Sam Darnold's rise: “Why would you draft J.J. McCarthy?”

This past offseason the Minnesota Vikings signed free-agent quarterback Sam Darnold, who spent last season with the San Francisco 49ers. A month later, in April, they traded up in the draft to select Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick in the draft.

The plan was for the two quarterbacks to compete with one another for the starting quarterback spot this season. McCarthy then opened up as the backup entering training camp.

After the Vikings' preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders, McCarthy reported soreness in his knee and was found to have torn his meniscus in his right knee. This caused Darnold to be named the starter. He is having a rejuvenating season, leading the Vikings to a 14-2 record with one game left in the regular season.

For the way that Darnold played this season, former NFL tight end and current sportscaster Shannon Sharpe questioned why the Vikings drafted McCarthy after signing Darnold in free agency.

Sharpe said via his YouTube channel "Nightcap:"

"If you thought Sam Darnold was that [good], why would you draft J.J. McCarthy? He has surprised… I was surprised because they took him and still drafted a quarterback with a top-10 pick… if you got a car, I’m not gonna go out and buy a new car if I’m convinced that the used car I’ve got can get me from point A to B in a timely manner consistently.”

Sam Darnold is going to get paid this upcoming offseason, the question is, will it be by the Minnesota Vikings?

Sam Darnold during Green Bay Packers v Minnesota Vikings - Source: Getty

No one could have predicted the season that Sam Darnold would have. Most thought he was a bust after his first couple of seasons with the New York Jets as he bounced around from being on three different teams in the last four seasons.

Darnold has now had the best season of his career, with career-highs in every major passing stat. He was even named one of three Pro Bowl quarterbacks from the NFC.

Darnold has helped lead the Vikings to a 14-2 record and will have a chance to win the NFC North as well as the No. 1 seed in the NFC if they defeat the Detroit Lions on Sunday night.

The Vikings find themselves in a tough position heading into this offseason. Will they extend and pay Sam Darnold a lot of money, will they franchise tag him, or will he hit free agency and sign an extension with a different team? What do you think will happen?