The Minnesota Vikings plainly intend to trade up for a quarterback in next month’s NFL draft, but there are clubs that can derail their plans.
Two such teams are the New York Giants, who pick sixth overall, and the Washington Commanders, who control the rights to the second overall pick. The exact player(s) Minnesota is pursuing is unknown, but given their current draft position (No. 11 overall) and prospective trade partners, former Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy is a safe bet for the Vikings.
The Giants just spoke with McCarthy, and the Commanders plan to do the same later this week, according to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report.
“Sources to @BleacherReport: Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy visited the #Giants last week, which included dinner with the front office and a tour of the facility,” Schultz wrote to X on Tuesday, March 19. “The #Commanders are flying out to Ann Arbour to have dinner Thursday night with McCarthy the night before his Pro Day, per multiple sources.”
Commanders’ Interest in J.J. McCarthy opens up interesting possibilities for the Vikings.
The Commanders’ meeting with McCarthy is less troubling than the Giants’ apparent interest for a variety of reasons.
Washington is almost certain to take a quarterback at No. 2 regardless, given the team’s decisions to trade 2023 starter Sam Howell to the Seattle Seahawks, let Jacoby Brissett leave for what appears to be a bridge starting job with the New England Patriots in 2024, and sign Marcus Mariota as a likely backup to a rookie quarterback next season.
As a result, the Commanders’ decision to choose McCarthy second would simply move either Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye out of the top three, potentially making one of those players available to Minnesota if the team trades up into the top five for a quarterback.
It’s possible that Daniels, Maye, or both are higher on the Vikings’ draft board than McCarthy, despite the fact that all are seen to be comparably solid prospects. As a result, passing up McCarthy in favour of one of those players could be a lateral move for Minnesota, if not better.
The Vikings may lose in the NFL draft if the Giants trade up with the Cardinals and draft a quarterback. However, New York has a different situation.
The Giants pick sixth, and the Vikings pick eleventh. Minnesota negotiated a deal to obtain the Houston Texans’ 23rd pick in this year’s draft, and most observers believe the Vikings would package the two picks (Nos. 11 and 23) — as well as a future first-round pick — to trade up. The Los Angeles Chargers are the most likely trade partner at No. 5, though the Arizona Cardinals are also a possibility at fourth overall.
The Cardinals have a significant need at wide receiver and can select Marvin Harrison Jr. fourth overall, who profiles as a potentially generational talent. The Cardinals may not be willing to drop seven slots with the Vikings. However, they could be willing to trade back two spots with the Giants in exchange for significant future draft value.
Not only would a trade from the Giants to the No. 4 spot remove McCarthy from consideration for the Vikings, but it would also mean that the top four quarterback prospects would be off the board before Minnesota had a chance to select at No. 5.
That development would call into question the Vikings’ trade with the Texans last week to acquire a second first-round pick in this year’s draft, leaving Minnesota with the difficult decision of either trading huge value to move up and select a player like Bo Nix, who is probably not worth that play in terms of value, or passing on a first-round quarterback altogether.
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