The Minnesota Vikings have an unexpected dilemma at quarterback over the offseason.
J.J. McCarthy – selected with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft – was enjoying a promising camp before suffering a season-ending torn meniscus.
Sam Darnold, who was supposed to be a bridge quarterback to the rookie, has turned around a faltering career and led the 14-2 Vikings into the postseason.
The former No. 3 pick for the New York Jets is on a one-year deal and has done more than enough to land a big-money offer from elsewhere in free agency.
But NFL insider Adam Schefter has raised the interesting prospect of Darnold, who is set to be controversially robbed of the Comeback Player of the Year award, staying in Minnesota and McCarthy securing a trade.
“In a limited quarterback draft class, where there are far more teams that need quarterbacks than quarterbacks who can step in right away, I definitely think teams will be checking in with the Vikings to see if they have any interest in trading J.J. McCarthy,” he told Courtney Cronin on ESPN radio.
“They may say, ‘We don’t’ and that would be the end of it. But do I think teams will explore that option, of course, absolutely, 100%.”
Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward are the two hottest prospects heading into the NFL Draft.
But it is not considered a deep class, which could prove an issue with the New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, Jets, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, and Indianapolis Colts all potentially in the market for a new man under center.
McCarthy went behind Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Michael Penix Jr. in his own draft.
But Schefter thinks he would be in line for the first pick in 2025.
“J.J. McCarthy would’ve been a top, if not the top, prospect in this draft,” he added.
“And yes he’s coming off the ACL. SO what? Doesn’t really matter.
“If the Vikings decided they wanted to trade him – which I don’t know if they will – I believe they would get back everything they put into him and thensome. A one and thensome.”
Fans were split as they reacted on social media, with many seeing no prospect of the Vikings moving on from McCarthy before giving him a chance.
“Now matter how good Sam Darnold was this year, they’re not going to leverage their future at QB for a 1yr Sam Darnold sample size,” said one.
“Why can’t they keep both for at least another year. This is the first time in team history it’s a strength vs a weakness and ‘they have to do something’ comes up,” wrote another.
“They are not trading JJ. The way he looked in camp mo way he goes anywhere,” added a third.
“Can’t wait until he’s on NFL countdown after taking a dozen NFL snaps in a couple years,” came a very pessimistic take.
For now, the focus in Minnesota is February’s Super Bowl.
The Vikings face the 14-2 Detroit Lions in a Week 18 divisional showdown that will decide who takes the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
Victory will ensure home field advantage, as well as a bye for the first week of the playoffs.
It is a high-stakes contest as defeat will see one of the teams become the No. 5 seed and play on the road in the wild-card round.
If the Vikings can go all the way and claim the Vince Lombardi Trophy, the Darnold question will loom even larger.
talkSPORT is your home of the NFL on UK radio, and you can stay up to date with all the latest from around the league via our dedicated ‘EndZone’ YouTube channel.
talkSPORT will bring you live coverage across Week 18 with a double header featuring the Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions.