ESPN Floats Already-Debunked Vikings Trade Idea
After drafting JJ McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings got to see just a single preseason game from the highest QB draft pick in franchise history, before he a surprise meniscus injury ended his rookie year.
Sam Darnold, who was already signed to the roster as a free agent when McCarthy’s name was called last April, went on to lead Minnesota to 14 wins, earning him Comeback Player of the Year honors, premature MVP talk and a fat paycheck incoming in 2025.
Now, the Minnesota Vikings have somewhat of a quarterback controversy. If the future is still J.J. McCarthy, which is what most insiders still believe, then it’s difficult to see where Sam Darnold fits into the picture long term. Thus, most expect the Vikings to let Sam walk in free agency.
Others hope Kwesi slaps either the franchise or transition tag on him, then seek a trade. No matter the process, nobody expects Sam to return when all is said and done. But not so fast, says one ESPN NFL expert.
What if, as NFL analytics specialist Aaron Schatz suggested Friday, Minnesota general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah signs Sam Darnold to a contract extension, then… pivots to a trade for McCarthy?
Minnesota Vikings should trade of J.J. McCarthy?
“Sign quarterback Sam Darnold long-term and trade J.J. McCarthy for picks: This seems like an absurd idea after the poor wild-card game Darnold had in the playoffs against the Rams, but that was just one game against a very strong, young defensive line…
…Signing Darnold to a long-term deal would also allow the Vikings to trade McCarthy. He would likely be the top-ranked quarterback in the 2025 class if he was in the upcoming draft. McCarthy won’t garner a top pick because he has one less season on his rookie contract than Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward will have, but he could get the Vikings a package of picks that would help to replenish their draft allotment.
Schatz suggesting to sign Darnold and trade McCarthy (ESPN)
Any idea of trading McCarthy and signing Darnold simply misses what just happened during the 2024 season. Sam Darnold came in on a one-year deal worth $10 million, after he had flamed out in other places. He then threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns.
That production happened because he was placed in an ideal infrastructure. Kevin O’Connell was named Coach of the Year. Darnold was throwing to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson. He was put in a position to succeed.
Related: Best Free Agent Guard Fits for Vikings Depending on Budget
There’s no reason why McCarthy can’t have the same type of success, once dropped into that same reality. If the organization is insistent on a veteran quarterback, then they can pivot to Daniel Jones or another bridge QB while we wait for McCarthy to prove ready.
This theory has already been debunked…
The Minnesota Vikings have made it clear that they want to build a Super Bowl roster around a rookie contract QB, something local insiders were reminded of when the idea of trading JJ surfaced a couple months ago. Back in early January, Vikings insiders like Ben Goessling (Star Tribune) and Matt Coller (Purple Insider) debunked this same theory that Schatz is now bringing back to life.
Coller: “You’re much better at reading the crystal ball than me, but I see very crystal clear that they are not trading JJ McCarthy.”
Goessling: “I would see the same thing, yes. I don’t think they’re trading JJ McCarthy. I mean, it’s one of those talkers that I think you and I were talking abou the other day. It’ll get some mileage, everybody will do it, but it’ll e the same thing as last offseason [with Justin Jefferson].”
I don’t think they are going to move a guy that they drafted, that they moved up to get, that Kevin O’Connell said is a franchise quarterback. It’s not going to happen. I don’t think there’s any likelihood of that”
Purple Insider Podcast (January 2, 2025)
Right now, the Vikings possess just three draft picks in April. They will select 24th overall, and then have two additional selections in the fifth round. Despite their positive cap situation, that’s not a great route to add additional young talent.
There is a path to picks for the Minnesota Vikings
If Darnold is a commodity worth signing to a multi-year contract for Minnesota, he certainly is for other teams as well. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah can tag his quarterback and control the trade process. There’s almost no world in which Darnold doesn’t garner at least the future third round compensatory pick he is in line to provide.
It’s illogical to suggest that McCarthy would be the best quarterback in this draft, while knowing that Darnold is the top free agent option. Yet many believe there would be no trade market for the 27-year-old CPOY? Why are we suddenly forgetting how desperate teams are for competent quarterback play?
JJ McCarthy’s tape is dotted with dimes.
— Thor Nystrom (@thorku) February 8, 2024
He was one of the nation’s best on 3rd-and-long and 4th down by the numbers. He did it without an awesome WR corps, and in a pro-style offense that didn’t give him empty-calorie stats.
His game will translate.
pic.twitter.com/iuqD1yDFXs https://t.co/QEWp5BcNSB
Someone is going to draft Jaxson Dart or Jalen Milroe well before they should. Carson Wentz and the ghost of Russell Wilson both generated a first round pick for their previous teams. Even if Darnold can’t get that as the top return, multiple seconds or thirds is still a better outcome.
McCarthy represents the path Minnesota wants going forward. He is on his rookie contract and has won at every stop. His 72.3% completion percentage at Michigan jumps off the page. He threw for 44 touchdowns and just nine interceptions over his final two years with the Wolverines.
Related: Minnesota Vikings Newest QB Still on the Table for 2025
To believe that McCarthy was the best option for the future a year ago, and change because Darnold succeeded with the same infrastructure that the young arm will use, is obtuse. Minnesota can trade a quarterback for picks. It’s just not logical to think that it’s the one they just put their future in less than a year ago.
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