The Minnesota Vikings are intensifying their pursuit of a promising young quarterback through potential aggressive trade moves. Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy seems to have caught the eye of the Vikings as they finalize their assessment of the 2024 draft class.
According to ESPN insider Matt Miller, the Vikings are keen on trading up within the top five picks to secure McCarthy, despite neither their general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah nor coach Kevin O’Connell attending Michigan’s pro day. However, quarterbacks coach Josh McCown closely observed McCarthy during his pro day throwing session, indicating the team’s interest. The Vikings, although not present at McCarthy’s pro day, have arranged a private workout with him for further evaluation.
Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune suggests that the Vikings will adopt a similar approach with other top quarterback prospects in the draft to tailor workouts that align with the team’s evaluation criteria.
While targeting a trade with the Arizona Cardinals or Los Angeles Chargers for the No. 4 or No. 5 pick seems logical if McCarthy is their preferred choice, the Vikings are still in the evaluation phase and should explore various options.
My understanding is, the Vikings will opt for private workouts with a lot of these QBs. Gives them more opportunities to structure workouts based on what they want to evaluate. https://t.co/Z9QNN7X3NI
— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) March 22, 2024
ESPN’s Jordan Reid proposes that the Vikings should first attempt to trade with the New England Patriots for the No. 3 pick to secure a shot at McCarthy or other top quarterbacks like LSU’s Jayden Daniels or North Carolina’s Drake Maye. However, if this plan fails, trading for the No. 5 pick with the Chargers remains a viable option. The Vikings’ recent acquisition of the No. 23 pick provides them with flexibility and a backup plan if they can’t secure a higher pick, potentially allowing them to target quarterbacks like Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. or Oregon’s Bo Nix.
McCarthy’s pro day at Michigan attracted significant attention from NFL personnel, with over 150 representatives present. The 21-year-old quarterback specifically tailored his workout to address concerns about his ability to throw certain types of passes, expressing confidence in his performance.
Leave a Reply