Sam Darnold’s unexpected breakout has the Minnesota Vikings battling for the top seed in the NFC playoff picture, and his emergence could lead to a J.J. McCarthy trade. Selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Michigan product was supposed to take over for the departed Kirk Cousins. Instead, he suffered a preseason injury, sidelining him for the year and forcing Darnold to take over under center. Despite failed stints with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, Darnold thrived and looks the part as a legitimate franchise quarterback.
Signed to a one-year, $10 million deal, Darnold is scheduled to hit free agency and should break the bank. However, the Vikings could use the franchise tag to retain his services and extend him if they believe this wasn’t a one-year fluke. This potentially makes J.J. McCarthy expendable, as Minnesota won’t want to roster such an expensive backup quarterback. Seeing as the 2025 NFL Draft is a weak quarterback class, the Vikings could probably get a first-round pick for McCarthy, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported teams will “definitely” try and trade for the untested rookie. While multiple teams will pursue a quarterback, the New Orleans Saints should be in the thick of the bidding.
“JJ McCarthy would’ve been a top if not THE top QB in this draft.”@AdamSchefter says teams will be calling the @Vikings to inquire about their rookie QB this offseason
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— ESPN Radio (@ESPNRadio) January 1, 2025
Sam Darnold’s Vikings Breakout Could Lead to a J.J. McCarthy Trade
First, we must see if this report passes the sniff test. While Schefter is one of the most connected reporters in the NFL, teams regularly leak fake information for their own selfish needs. Giving up on a first-round quarterback after one year is rare, especially when that player has yet to see the field for the organization that drafted him. However, in this specific instance, it could happen.
Darnold has guided Minnesota to an impressive 14-2 record, but he hasn’t done it by just being a game manager. The former third-overall pick has played like a legitimate franchise quarterback, routinely making amazing throws while keeping the ball out of harm’s way. As of this posting, he ranks sixth in PFF grade, 10th in EPA/play, fourth in passing yards, fifth in touchdown passes, and 13th in ESPN’s QBR. By just about every metric, he’s playing like a legitimate top-10 quarterback, and you don’t let a player like him walk out the door.
The Vikings know Darnold can play well in their system, which is not something they can say about J.J. McCarthy. However, that uncertainty shouldn’t stop them from receiving a significant return in a trade. McCarthy was the fifth quarterback selected in a loaded 2024 draft class, but he’d probably be the QB1 in the underwhelming 2025 draft class. With several teams needing passers, Minnesota could get a better first-round pick than the one they used on McCarthy. So, it’s safe to assume the Vikings will listen to offers, and the Saints should be among the top bidders.
Possible Fit In New Orleans
Despite firing head coach Dennis Allen, all signs indicate that the New Orleans Saints will once again restructure contracts and put off a rebuild. This means the team will look for a quarterback who can win now, and that might not be Derek Carr. Carr is not an active liability by any stretch of the imagination, but he’s not a player capable of elevating a flawed roster. Depending on who lands the job, the next head coach could prefer to move Carr and trade for J.J. McCarthy.
The biggest obstacle here is Carr’s contract. Thanks to multiple contract restructures, the quarterback carries a $51.45 million cap hit next year and won’t be cheap to cut. However, the team could trade him after June 1st and clear $40 million in cap space. Seeing as McCarthy is on a rookie contract and is relatively affordable, New Orleans should be able to make the money work and build a competent roster around their potential quarterback of the future.
Main Photo: Jeffrey Becker – USA Today Sports
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