DEAL AGREED: Minnesota Vikings Are Set to Land a Franchise QB in a Blockbuster Trade

The Minnesota Vikings appear to be planning a trade up to choose their franchise quarterback of the future in this year’s draft.

General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah previously acquired the No. 23 overall pick in a deal with the Houston Texans, which he is expected to use as fuel to move to the top of the draft board and select a quarterback capable of guiding postseason pushes for years to come.

 

Could the Minnesota Vikings trade for J.J. McCarthy?
In Pro Football Focus’ most recent mock draft, the Vikings not only complete a blockbuster trade, but also emerge from the 2024 NFL Draft with Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy following a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers.

After Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels are taken with the first three picks, PFF’s Max Chadwick envisions a trade in which the Vikings transfer the 11th and 23rd picks in this year’s draft, as well as a 2025 third-round pick, to the Chargers in return for the 5th pick.
“The Vikings trading for the No. 23 pick in March,” Chadwick writes. “indicated that they were likely to move up and take a quarterback. While J.J. McCarthy still has some work to do before he reaches his potential, it’s difficult to find a better setting for him to thrive than Minnesota. As a bonus, Harbaugh will be the one to place his former quarterback in an excellent scenario and make him a top-five pick.”
The Vikings would gain a quarterback to develop around as they compete in the NFC North with the Detroit Lions and the ascending Green Bay Packers.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles would have the option of adding several first-round picks around Chargers franchise quarterback Justin Herbert or moving back up to snag one of the top receivers while still having draft capital in 2025.

Jim Harbaugh Offers Ringing J.J. McCarthy Endorsement

McCarthy’s draft status rose significantly this spring under Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh.

Harbaugh, who coached McCarthy in Ann Arbour, believes the former Michigan star is this year’s top quarterback prospect.
“He’s the best quarterback in this draft,” Harbaugh told reporters during the NFL Annual Meeting. “He plays quarterback better than any other quarterback. “He is a winner.”

Harbaugh isn’t the only one who believes McCarthy has potential.

Randy Mueller, the former NFL Executive of the Year, believes McCarthy should be considered with USC’s Caleb Williams, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, and North Carolina’s Drake Maye as this year’s top quarterback prospect.

“You better put J.J. McCarthy in that top group of quarterbacks,” Mueller recently advised me. “Because he may have the highest ceiling of them all.

“He crushed it in Indy, and he actually crushed it on film, it’s just taking certain people a while to catch up and realize.”