Over the past few weeks, JJ McCarthy’s draft stock has been steadily rising, and there is strong interest from an NFC team to acquire the former Michigan standout.
According to ESPN’s Matt Miller, who published an insider piece on Saturday, multiple sources within the NFL have indicated that the Minnesota Vikings have their sights set on McCarthy. It is believed that the Vikings are determined to aggressively trade up in order to secure his services.
Miller’s conversations with NFL personnel during pro days this week have reinforced the notion that the Vikings are still intent on trading up to the No. 4 or No. 5 spot to secure the talented Michigan quarterback. One general manager even described McCarthy as a top-six pick at the moment, raising the question of which team will make a move to acquire him.
Following a recent trade with the Houston Texans, the Vikings currently possess the No. 11 and No. 23 overall picks in the draft. There have been reports suggesting that Minnesota may consider packaging both of these first-round picks to move up and select a quarterback like McCarthy.
If Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye are selected in the first three picks, it is likely that the Vikings would need to secure the No. 4 pick to ensure they have the opportunity to draft McCarthy. The Arizona Cardinals currently hold that pick and have expressed their willingness to entertain offers.
The Vikings find themselves in need of a new quarterback after Kirk Cousins signed a lucrative free-agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons. Although Minnesota has since signed Sam Darnold, all indications suggest that they are still keen on making a significant impact in the draft by selecting a quarterback like McCarthy.
