Questions Answered: Justin Herbert in Purple, Stefon Diggs on the Move, Breakout Viking
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the April 3rd edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Questions Answered: Justin Herbert in Purple, Stefon Diggs on the Move, Breakout Viking
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Q: Is there any possible way Justin Herbert could be traded to the Vikings while the Chargers draft J.J. McCarthy with the Michigan connection?
Answer: No, probably not.
The Harbaugh-McCarthy theory really does make sense; we won’t dispute that. But two items separate the Chargers from trading Hebert to the Vikings or anywhere:
- He’s borderline elite.
- $63,500,000.00 in dead cap funds.
The NFL is about finding a franchise quarterback to indefinitely establish and prolong a Super Bowl window. It’s why the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills routinely tunnel deep into the postseason annually. Herbert isn’t far from Josh Allen’s talent. Los Angeles has the hard part figured out — finding a magnificent young quarterback.
If Harbaugh, though, loved McCarthy as his NFL QB1, the Chargers would have to justify eating $63.5 million in dead cap just to trade Herbert before June 1st. It’s a double-whammy.
Herbert is almost guaranteed to be good for the next 10 years. All things considered, McCarthy is a fancy lottery ticket.
Q: Do you think Stefon Diggs will be a success in Houston?
Answer: Yes.
He may not love existing as WR2 or WR3 behind Nico Collins and Tank Dell, but his team will win oodles of games and wiggle far into the annual postseason tournament. That will keep him happy.
Ultimately, Diggs wants to win a Super Bowl, and landing with the upstart Texans is a terrific spot for that mission.
Plus, if Collins or Dell get hurt, well, Diggs is right back into the WR1 spotlight.
Q: Who’s your early breakout candidate for the 2024 Vikings?
A: Jaquelin Roy.
This one might be by default: the Vikings don’t have tons of high-profile players at Roy’s spot, defensive tackle. The young defender saw a little bit of action as a rookie in 2023 and didn’t look half bad.
Roy will battle Jonathan Bullard, Jonah Williams, and Jerry Tillery for a starter’s job later this summer, and as a player drafted by this coaching staff, he might have an incumbent advantage to see more playing time than most expect.
Sam Darnold, too, could author a 2023 Baker Mayfield season. So watch for that.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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