Will Vikings make the playoffs this year? NFL Playoff Bracket simulation not sold on J.J. McCarthy's rookie potential 

The Minnesota Vikings are looking to bounce back strong in the 2024 NFL season after a disappointing outcome last year. They failed to return to the NFL Playoffs after making it there the year before.They are hoping to change that in this upcoming season, but will need to overcome a significant quarterback change in order to do so.

The franchise shockingly parted ways with Kirk Cousins during the offseason, who instead signed with the Atlanta Falcons in the 2024 NFL free agency period. They decided to pivot to a polarizing rookie quarterback moving forward after selecting J.J. McCarthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

McCarthy has a strong history of winning, including a national championship victory with the Michigan Wolverines last year. The potential issue is that he doesn't necessarily possess the physical tools that most NFL teams seek in a quarterback prospect. Nevertheless, he will be tasked with trying to get the Vikings back into the playoffs in 2024.

According to Sportskeeda's 2024 NFL Playoff Predictor, that is unlikely to be the outcome of McCarthy's rookie season. The Simulator predicted that they will fall three games short of the final Wild Card spot, while finishing in last place in the NFL North division.

Vikings projections for 2024 NFL season

2024 projections

The Minnesota Vikings are hoping to get back on track during the 2024 NFL season after falling to a 7-10 record last year after making it to the NFL Playoffs in the season before. Sportskeeda's NFL Playoff Predictor apparently doesn't believe that they will accomplish that goal this season. In fact, it projects that they will take another step backwards and finish with a disappointing 6-11 record.

While J.J. McCarthy has an extremely favorable situation around him in Minnesota, rookie seasons can always be challenging for any quarterback prospect. He is potentially set up for success with head coach Kevin O'Connell, a respected quarterback coach, and two of the best players in the entire NFL at their respective positions with wide receiver Justin Jefferson and tight end T.J. Hockenson.

If th Vikings can keep all of these pieces in place, the future could be extremely bright for J.J. McCarthy, who has already demonstrated his ability to win big games during his college football career. The Predictor just doesn't see that happening in his rookie year, as it expects them to miss out on the postseason by a significant margin for the 2024 NFL season.