Vikings likely to trade with Chargers, Draft QB J.J. McCarthy
The Minnesota Vikings QB situation is in flux, with connections to multiple top free agents and draft prospects possible, but some scenarios are much more likely than others.
Re-signing Kirk Cousins remains a top priority for Minnesota, and that information has been communicated directly to GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah several times this offseason, including at last week’s NFL combine. However, the second most attractive option for the Vikings is a franchise prospect, rather than signing Baker Mayfield or trading the No. 42 pick to the Chicago Bears to acquire Justin Fields. This is a trade for a rookie QB.
Given that premise, three or four players are realistic options, depending on how high Minnesota can go. A trade with the New England Patriots, who own the No. 3 overall pick, could result in a player like Jaden Daniels. But in exchange for moving up just eight spots, the Vikings could lose three first-round picks. Instead, SB Nation’s Daily Northman predicted Minnesota would sign with the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 5 and select reigning national champion quarterback J.J. McCarthy of the University of Michigan.
This premise is based on a report from SB Nation’s Arizona Cardinals coverage that indicates the team will select Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 4, with the Chargers trading in the process. This will encourage investors to accumulate more draft capital. “If true, the Vikings’ first real trade opportunity would be to the Chargers at No. 5,” the Daily Northman wrote on Wednesday, March 6. “Someday someone is going to take McCarthy away.” Probably Kwesi [Adofofo Fashion]. “”
J.J. McCarsey will probably reduce the cost of n ° 5 buffet than other QBs of N ° 3.
Minnesota probably can participate in the game to trade with the patriot in No. 3 with Washington’s commander, but no team accepts the value equivalent to the QB that can take this place. I am looking at the defender based on all the national reports in the last few weeks.
Chargers already have a QB franchise to Justin Harbert and have a new /coaching system. This should reduce wages in this season and find young talent at low cost. Meanwhile, the Star Tribune’s Ben Gosling told KFAN’s Paul Allen in late January that the Vikings would trade several first-round picks to acquire their quarterback of the future, saying, “There’s no blink of an eye.” I won’t,” he said.
The 11th pick this year and a 2025 first-round pick the Vikings would pay for a player like McCarthy would add a 2026 first-round pick to move up to No. 3 in the general standings. That’s a much more reasonable amount. . That’s especially true if there’s no guarantee that Daniels or whoever Minnesota prefers after Caleb Williams (the Bears’ projected No. 1 pick) will be there after Washington takes the No. 2 pick.
If the Vikings like Bo Nix, they could keep him at No. 11 and sign a bridge QB.
The Giants plan to select Oregon quarterback Bo Nix for him.
McCarthy’s stock has risen after a string of strong performances, and given the importance of the position and the dire need for quarterbacks in the NFL, he could very well be a top-10 pick. However, depending on the evaluation of the Vikings’ deep center class, Minnesota may be able to sign Bo Nix from Oregon State, who the team likes more than McCarthy, without giving up anything.
NFL analyst and former pro quarterback Chris Sims posted his top six on social media on Wednesday, and although the Knicks topped McCarthy, both fell into the “franchise starting quarterback” category. Joining that category is Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. Sims listed Williams as the top prospect in “his class,” followed by Daniels as the only second-tier player, saying he’s the type of quarterback who could have been the No. 1 pick in any other year. Sims broke with conventional wisdom by calling UNC’s Drake Maye, widely considered the No. 3 prospect in the class, a fourth-string player and a “talent project.”
Russell Wilson will be the Vikings’ low-cost starter in 2024
Assuming Cousins doesn’t return, the most logical thing for Minnesota would be to plan a trade with the Chargers in the most predictable order of the draft, which is to take a QB first. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place (Williams and Daniels not included), with Harrison coming in 4th place.
For now, the Vikings can wait to see what happens as the Atlanta Falcons and Las Vegas Raiders are both interested in QB, but either could acquire him through free agency or a pre-draft trade. There is sex. It starts in April. If Minnesota is concerned about not being able to select a player at No. 11, it could move one or both of the Falcons and Raiders to No. 5. If the situation doesn’t require such aggressive play, the Vikings can stay. Go home and wait until you select your franchise QB. Meanwhile, as ESPN Analytics’ Seth Walder recently suggested when he projected Wilson to start for the Vikings in Week 1, Minnesota is likely to have players like Sam Darnold and Russell Wilson in the team’s final lineup. There is a possibility that he will be considered as a starting pitcher for selected young players. In 2024.
“Let’s call him the Bo Nix of Wilson and Oregon State,” Walder wrote on Feb. 27. “Cousins could return to Minnesota, but I think the Vikings are refusing to give him a guaranteed multi-year contract. Even if he goes off the radar, maybe in the short term Wilson That would be the next best thing.
The Denver Broncos are expected to release Wilson at the start of the league’s new year on March 13th, and given all the dead money they owe him, Wilson might be willing to sign him at a bargain price. unknown.
