Quarterback Sam Darnold has develop into one of the vital fascinating tales of the NFL season as he seemingly resurrected his profession by guiding the Minnesota Vikings to a 14-2 document.
A lot has been made about how the Vikings will deal with Darnold’s standing with the 27-year-old set to achieve free company in March as 2024 first-round draft decide J.J. McCarthy continues his restoration from the entire meniscus repair that value him his rookie season. Throughout a Wednesday look on ESPN Radio, NFL insider Adam Schefter defined why he believes groups will name Minnesota about McCarthy earlier than this yr’s draft will get underway.
“In a restricted quarterback draft class, the place there are much more groups that want quarterbacks than quarterbacks who really can step in immediately, I undoubtedly suppose groups can be checking in with the Vikings to see if they’ve any curiosity in buying and selling J.J. McCarthy,” Schefter stated, as shared by Joe Nelson of Sports activities Illustrated. “…McCarthy would’ve been a high, if not the highest, quarterback prospect on this draft.”
Whereas the New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns might all have some interest in touchdown Miami quarterback Cam Ward or Colorado star signal-caller Shedeur Sanders throughout this yr’s draft, ESPN’s Matt Miller identified on Wednesday he “would not be snug calling [Ward and Sanders] first-round prospects based mostly on this season’s tape.” As for McCarthy, he turned the fifth quarterback drafted final spring when Minnesota made him general decide No. 10.
Some think the Vikings ought to attempt to signal Darnold, a potential Comeback Participant of the 12 months candidate, to a multi-year extension and make McCarthy obtainable. Others have noted that the Vikings can afford to retain Darnold’s rights for 2025 by way of the franchise tag to start out him over McCarthy for an additional season.
With that stated, Schefter hinted that McCarthy’s commerce worth earlier than the opening night time of this yr’s draft might give the Vikings one thing to consider concerning his future.
“If the Vikings determined that they needed to commerce him, which I do not know that they will, I imagine they will get again all the pieces they put into him after which some. Will probably be a [first-round pick] after which some,” Schefter added.
The Vikings will first wait to see how Darnold performs starting with the upcoming “Sunday Evening Soccer” sport on the 14-2 Detroit Lions that may decide the No. 1 seed for the NFC playoffs earlier than Minnesota makes any main name about its quarterback room for September. If, nonetheless, one group that was excessive on McCarthy final spring makes a so-called “‘Godfather’ supply” for his companies, these working the Vikings could decide that locking Darnold down for a couple of years is what’s finest for the group.
