NFL Analyst Suggests Wild QB1 Idea for Vikings
After rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s season-ending meniscus tear last weekend, the Minnesota Vikings are on tap to start Sam Darnold in 2024.
NFL Analyst Suggests Wild QB1 Idea for Vikings
But one NFL analyst claims that solution isn’t wise and that Minnesota should explore a trade for Jacksonville Jaguars QB2 Mac Jones instead.
Yes, him.
“If I was the Vikings I’d trade for Mac Jones. Sam Darnold is not QB1 for 17 games,” FS1 Kevin Wildes tweeted Wednesday.
The New England Patriots, the club that drafted Jones in the 1st Round three years ago, shipped Jones to Jacksonville in March for a 6th-Round pick, where he’ll be the go-to guy if something happens to Trevor Lawrence. The Vikings, on the other hand, employ the aforementioned Darnold, Nick Mullens, and Jaren Hall on the current depth chart.
While Darnold certainly is not a sure-thing solution, Wildes’ Jones theory does little to move the needle for Minnesota. The Vikings are now guaranteed, barring injury, to roll with Darnold indefinitely, and Jones does not provide much more sizzle as a QB1 option.
The 25-year-old dimed 22 passing touchdowns to 13 interceptions as a rookie in 2021, earned a Pro Bowl nod, and finished second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting. He was trending upward. Then, 2022 arrived, Jones fired up a meager 14 touchdown passes, often appeared disgruntled on the Patriots sidelines — probably why head coach Bill Belichick wasn’t enamored with him — and finished 27th in quarterback DVOA. It was an honest-to-goodness sophomore slump. And 2023 somehow got worse during Jones’ pivotal third campaign.
Jones then quarterbacked the Patriots again in 2023, leading New England to a 2-9 record on his watch, with a 10-touchdown pass and 12-interception split. He was benched down the stretch for Bailey Zappe.
Right before Kirk Cousins left town in March, some NFL entities, including The 33rd Team, suggested Jones as Minnesota’s quarterback solution before it landed Darnold and McCarthy. The 33rd Team’s Derrik Klassen wrote about the Vikings six months ago: “The Minnesota Vikings could make some sense. Sitting outside the top 10 for this year’s draft, the Vikings could feel pressured to re-sign Kirk Cousins. Bringing in Jones as a stable backup and potential succession plan makes sense, unexciting as that may be for Vikings fans.”
The trade theory never materialized, and the Darnold + McCarthy era began in the Twin Cities.
If the Vikings became disillusioned with Darnold during the 2024 regular season, other quarterback trade options might include Case Keenum (Houston Texans), Mike White (Miami Dolphins), Malik Willis (Tennessee Titans), Zach Wilson (Denver Broncos), Trey Lance (Dallas Cowboys), or Clayton Tune (Arizona Cardinals).
Generally speaking, there is no evidence to suggest the Vikings would be interested in Jones despite the declarative Wildes tweet.
Vikings Season Now about One Man
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.