The Vikings trade two first-round picks with the Cardinals in return for acquiring Maye or McCarthy through a pitch flip trade.

The Minnesota Vikings have the option of multiple trades to secure a top-five position for a quarterback in this year’s NFL draft, but their most favorable alternative could be striking an agreement with the Arizona Cardinals.

On Thursday, March 21st, Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport proposed a trade deal that entails exchanging the Vikings’ two first-round picks in 2024 (which are numbered as No.11 and No.23) for the fourth overall pick plus an additional sixth-rounder from Arizona.

Ever since the Vikings got their hands on the 23rd pick from Houston, there has been plenty of speculation about it being utilized to move up for a quarterback. However, if neither Washington nor New England are willing to give away their shot at selecting one and Minnesota is truly desperate, they may need to settle for what’s available and probably end up choosing J.J. McCarthy with fourth overall selection according to Davenport’s analysis.

In 2024, it is crucial for the Vikings to choose their quarterback from either the third or fourth position on the draft board.

To optimize their chances, the Vikings may seek to exchange spots with the Patriots at No. 3. It appears highly likely that Caleb Williams will be chosen first by the Chicago Bears, and respected analysts such as Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates of ESPN anticipate Jayden Daniels being selected second by the Commanders.

By trading for the No. 3 pick, Minnesota would secure an excellent chance to select their desired quarterback from a pool excluding Williams and Daniels. The topmost prospect in question could potentially be UNC’s Drake Maye, who has past ties with Vikings’ recently appointed quarterbacks mentor Josh McCown during his tenure at high school in Charlotte.

It is difficult to negotiate an agreement with the Patriots because it will likely require Minnesota to sacrifice three first-round picks instead of two, as suggested in Davenport’s offer to the Cardinals, who hold a slightly lower position.

Yates estimated that the Vikings would engage in a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers for their spot at No. 5, and anticipated it would require three first-round picks from Minnesota to do so. It may be worthwhile for the Vikings to consider sacrificing these draft picks within two years if they hope to secure an advantageous position in the upcoming NFL Draft.

If Minnesota fails to convince the Patriots to trade their third pick for three first-round picks, they can pursue a deal with the Cardinals at Pick No. 4 as an alternative. This strategy ensures that other teams like the New York Giants and Denver Broncos do not surpass them in drafting another quarterback before it is their turn on clock at draft day.

Maye potentially being selected third and McCarthy fourth would leave Minnesota in a precarious position with nowhere to go.

In this draft, the Vikings must locate a durable successor for Kirk Cousins.

If the Patriots don’t agree to trade and considering how Kirk Cousins’ final years with Vikings turned out, Minnesota must not miss the opportunity of securing either Maye or McCarthy at quarterback.

The team had the option to offer Cousins a multi-year extension before the 2022 season, but decided to go with only one extra year. This meant that he was still contracted for last season. However, in March Minnesota refrained from overspending and therefore offered less than what the Atlanta Falcons did, resulting in Cousins being drawn towards joining them instead; their bid was higher after all!

Sam Darnold was the only quarterback signed by the Vikings, as they did not attempt to acquire any other high-profile free agents or pursue a trade for former Chicago Bears starter Justin Fields. The contract with Darnold is set for one year.

Moving forward, the future of All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson in Minnesota hinges on the franchise’s plan for their starting quarterback. Consequently, any efforts to offer him a new deal will depend on how they address this issue as Darnold appears insufficient to serve as a long-term solution. Securing players like Maye or McCarthy is essential and should be prioritized by all means necessary.