Vikings Nopedy Nopes: J.J. McCarthy Starting Right Away, Jefferson as Tradebait, Kirk Cousins Trade
A weekend publication from VikingsTerritory, we present to you: the Vikings Nopedy Nopes of the week.
Vikings Nopedy Nopes: J.J. McCarthy Starting Right Away, Jefferson as Tradebait, Kirk Cousins Trade
The nopedy nopes are weekly Minnesota Vikings-themed items that we’re not buying. It’s a spin-off of our rumor mill, and we hope you enjoy. Here is the ninth batch of Vikings nopedy nopes in the series’ history.
The Nopedy Nope: There’s a decent chance that J.J. McCarthy will start Week 1 for the Vikings.
McCarthy currently has +150 odds to be the Week 1 starter for Minnesota, which is about twice as likely as the Denver Nuggets (+280) winning the NBA Championship in June, if that can be believed.
Most of that prop bet will depend on McCarthy’s summer maturation. The Vikings — without any doubt — won’t rush the young man into anything, mainly because they don’t have to. That’s what Sam Darnold is for. He was signed to a handsome backup quarterback contract, in line with deals generally offered to patchover quarterbacks.
It would be outstanding if McCarthy blows everyone out of the water this summer and ascends to QB1. But we’re not buying it. It’s Darnold, at least for a while.
Verdict: Nopedy nope.
The Nopedy Nope: Justin Jefferson could’ve been tradebait as Minnesota pursued the third overall pick from the New England Patriots in the draft.
Some folks — mainly New England Patriots fans — suggested that Justin Jefferson could be included in a draft-night trade between New England and Minnesota. Unsurprisingly, that was just fan-driven fodder.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Minnesota never had Jefferson even remotely in the trade bucket. Schefter joined The Pat McAfee Show this week, and show co-host Connor Campbell wanted to know the best trade offer flung at the New England Patriots. Inconveniently for some, Minnesota’s would-be trade package never included Jefferson.
“Connor wants me to say the Vikings offered Justin Jefferson to get up to No. 3. No, they did not. They offered various pick packages to get up there. The Vikings had the most discussions with the Patriots … Clearly, the Patriots were determined to stick where they were,” Schefter said.
This was never going to happen.
Verdict: Nopedy nope.
The Nopedy Nope: Kirk Cousins could ask for a trade this summer.
The Atlanta Falcons, out of nowhere, drafted Michael Penix Jr. 10 days ago with the eighth overall pick, heavily implying he’ll eventually replace Kirk Cousins.
So, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio wrote this week, “The other question, beyond his next press conference, is what he’ll do? Will the presence of Penix prompt Cousins to show up early, stay late, and actually work on Tuesdays? Or will he do the minimum, reasoning that if the Falcons aren’t using their draft picks to maximize the team’s chances in 2024 and 2025, why should he work for free? Cousins might decide he wants out.”
Florio doubled down, “Technically, he could be traded after June 1 with $12.5 million in dead money this year and $37.5 million in 2025. If traded after the season, the charge in 2025 would be $37.5 million; his cap hit if on the team next year is due to be $40 million. There’s no way Penix will sit, as G.M. Terry Fontenot has suggested, for four or five years. It’s three at the very most, one at a minimum (barring injury to Cousins). The most likely is two.”
Cousins won’t ask for a trade. Does that really sound like something Kirk Cousins would do? Come on.
Verdict: Nopedy nope.
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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 MIN 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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