Adam Schefter reveals where JJ McCarthy would rank in 2025 NFL Draft, value in potential trade

Posted by author January 1, 2025 NFL

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The Minnesota Vikings (14-2) drafted JJ McCarthy to be their quarterback of the future, but could they already be willing to ship him elsewhere before he makes his NFL debut?

Now, the only reason that’s even a question is because of the emergence of Sam Darnold, who is playing at an MVP-like level for Minnesota and has the Vikings competing for the No. 1 seed in the NFC this Sunday. Couple that with a weaker quarterback draft class in 2025 and you create a possibility for quarterback-needy teams to inquire about McCarthy’s services. ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter delved into what a possible trade would look like and what kind of value the Vikings could get in return for McCarthy during a Tuesday appearance on “Unsportsmanlike.”

“Well, again, there’s a lot of hypotheticals there… but what I would say is this, that in a limited quarterback draft class, where there are far more teams that need quarterbacks than quarterbacks who actually 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 JJ McCarthy,” Schefter said. “Now they may say we don’t, and that’s the end of it, but do I think teams will explore that option that you just raised here already… because JJ McCarthy, you know, would have been a top, if not the top quarterback prospect in this draft.

Vikings have decision to make on JJ McCarthy, Sam Darnold

“And yes, he’s coming off the ACL. So what? Doesn’t really matter? And if the Vikings decided that 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 then some, it would be a one and then some.”

McCarthy, 21, is one year removed from leading Michigan to a College Football Playoff National Championship victory over Washington. The Vikings selected him No. 10 overall in this past year’s NFL Draft, just over a month removed from signing Darnold to a one-year, $10 million deal in free agency.

The plan was clear: Play Darnold as a one-year stop gap before handing the reins to McCarthy. But then, McCarthy tore his meniscus in his right knee during the first preseason game. He underwent a second surgery in November to address swelling in the knee that developed after an increase in activity during the rehabilitation process. McCarthy is on track to return for the 2025 season.

While McCarthy has been rehabbing, Darnold has been playing the best ball of his career. A former first round pick in his own right, Darnold has thrown for 4,153 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions on 68.1% passing. Now, Darnold has a chance to cash in — but will the Vikings go all-in on the 27-year-old late bloomer?

That’s the question, one the Vikings will have to answer this offseason. And if Darnold leads the Vikings to their first Super Bowl victory, perhaps that makes the decision an easy one to make.