Jeremiah: J.J. McCarthy Could Fall if Vikings Let Him

By Vincent Frank |

Updated: Apr 17, 2024

J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings — Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

You have undoubtedly already read the reports of the Minnesota Vikings’ interest in former Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy leading up to next week’s NFL Draft.

Minnesota being linked to QBs isn’t a surprise after Kirk Cousins departed for the Atlanta Falcons during NFL free agency. Once general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah added a second first-round pick in the draft via a trade with the Houston Texans, it became clear what the target was going to be.

Plenty of questions still remain, though. Who are the Vikings going to target? How high might they have to trade up from the 11th spot, to get their quarterback of the future?

For his part, McCarthy has been ascending draft boards big time leading up to the annual event. There was even one recent report that suggested the Washington Commanders might prefer him to Drake Maye (North Carolina) and Jayden Daniels (LSU) at No. 2.

NFL Draft Expert Has Interesting Note on Minnesota Vikings Pursuit of J.J. McCarthy

It’s not rare for smoke to be the name of the game at this point in the pre-draft process. It still stands to reason that both Maye and Daniels will go ahead of McCarthy.

From a pure consumption standpoint, front office heads are playing the media game in an attempt to pull one over on their counterparts, and the Vikings are involved with a lot of possible scenarios that could make next week one of the craziest 1st rounds in NFL history.

Giving his final conference call ahead of the draft, the respected Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Media told reporters that the Vikings might not have to trade up too far to land McCarthy in next week’s draft. In short, interest in the reigning National Champion within the top-10 is not too prevalent.

“I don’t know know who the other J.J. McCarthy team is … I don’t think there’s another McCarthy team (until Denver at 12) unless it’s the Vikings,” Jeremiah said.

Specifically, @MoveTheSticks said if the Vikings don't trade up for JJ McCarthy, or trade up and take someone else, "I don't know know who the other J.J. McCarthy team is … I don't think there's another McCarthy team (until Denver at 12) unless it's the Vikings."
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano) April 17, 2024

Minnesota is slated to select 11th and 23rd in the first round of next week’s NFL Draft. The thought process was that this team might have to move all the way up to No. 4 with the Arizona Cardinals or at least the fifth selection with the Los Angeles Chargers, in order to jump ahead of the Giants and guarantee they land McCarthy. But… that may no longer be the case… if we take Jeremiah at his word.

Based on various NFL trade value charts, Minnesota would have to give up both first-round picks, possibly more, in order to move into the top five. This most-recent report changes the dynamics, though, and could allow the Vikings to keep their additional first-rounder (acquired from Houston).

Let’s say a team such as the Atlanta Falcons (eighth) or Chicago Bears (ninth) are willing to trade down. A trade up scenario with one of those teams would probably only cost Minnesota its fourth-rounder (108th overall) and a likely third-round pick next year.

Regardless of your opinion, relating to McCarthy compared to other first-round quarterback prospects, this report is very good news news for Vikings fans… as long as the Giants aren’t bluffing so McCarthy falls to them…