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The Vikings could begin the season with Darnold as the team's starting quarterback despite taking J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, ESPN reports. "We're not going to rush his development," said general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. "We're just going to do what's best for the Vikings in the short and long term."

Analysis: Darnold signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Vikings as a short-term veteran starter or backup. It's hard to handicap when McCarthy may take over the starting job this soon after the draft, but it's notable the Vikings are trying to reduce expectations. Expect the quarterback battle for the Week 1 starting job to commence this summer. Still, odds are Darnold will only be the starter for a few weeks at most if McCarthy is healthy and making progress.

GM Trent Baalke said Saturday that the Jaguars will exercise the fifth-year option on Etienne's rookie contract, John Shipley of SI.com reports.

Analysis: The same can be said for fellow 2021 first-round pick Trevor Lawrence, which will become official by Thursday's deadline to lock in such options. After getting drafted three years ago, Etienne's pro debut was delayed due to a Lisfranc injury during the preseason in August 2021, but he's since rushed for more than 1,000 yards in both of the last two seasons while racking up 93 catches for 792 yards in 34 regular-season contests. He'll continue to lead Jacksonville's backfield for the next two campaigns ahead of Tank Bigsby once the aforementioned option is exercised.

GM Trent Baalke said Saturday that the Jaguars will exercise the fifth-year option on Lawrence's rookie contract, John Shipley of SI.com reports.

Analysis: Teams need to make such decisions for 2021 first-round picks by Thursday, and Jacksonville intends to exercise those options for both Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne. Lawrence will be working with a familiar backfield of Etienne and Tank Bigsby in 2024, but his receiving corps has been jostled a bit, with WR Calvin Ridley departing for the AFC South rival Titans and rookie second-rounder Brian Thomas and free-agent pickup Gabe Davis replacing him. While Lawrence has tossed for 4,000-plus yards in back-to-back campaigns, he has yet to reach 30 touchdowns through the air in any of his three seasons as a pro.