Popular Website Floats NFL “Transfer Portal” for J.J. McCarthy
The Minnesota Vikings have about one week to decide quarterback Sam Darnold’s 2025 fate, reportedly declining to franchise tag-and-trade the 27-year-old and instead preferring a team-friendly extension or letting him hit open free agency on Monday.
Popular Website Floats NFL “Transfer Portal” for J.J. McCarthy
And according to ProFootballTalk.com, a Darnold extension, in theory, could prompt the Vikings’ other quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, to opt for the NFL’s transfer portal, which is a fancy way of saying a trade request.
“First-round rookie J.J. McCarthy suffered a preseason knee injury, and the Vikings shut him down for the entire season. Darnold became the unquestioned, wire-to-wire starter, with no reason to glance over his shoulder after a bad decision or a poorly-aimed throw,” PFT’s Mike Florio explained.
“This year, it will be different. McCarthy will be ready. If Darnold struggles at all, they’ll start clamoring for J.J. And the yips that didn’t show up until Week 18 could arrive a lot sooner.”
Then, he delivered the transfer portal tidbit: “Of course, this assumes McCarthy is still there. If the Vikings sign Darnold to a contract that amounts to a two-year commitment, McCarthy might try to enter the NFL’s version of the transfer portal.”
Hypothetically, yes, Minnesota could extend Darnold to a contract in the neighborhood of three years and $110 million, causing a McCarthy trade request.
It’s just that it’s the almighty worst-case scenario that is unlikely to materialize. Minnesota, too, could sign Aaron Rodgers this offseason, but no serious person expects that to unfold.
Florio added, “The ultimate question becomes whether the Vikings are content to contend — and possibly make a quick playoff exit — with a guy who has already shown that the biggest stage is too big, or whether they want to see whether they have something special in McCarthy.”
In all likelihood, the Vikings’ brass won’t overthink this situation — it drafted McCarthy for a reason, to become the team’s QB1. The man might’ve earned the job last year if it weren’t for a torn meniscus.
Trading McCarthy — the transfer portal — would plop the Vikings directly back into the Kirk Cousins era of purple football, hoping to construct a decent roster on a condensed budget because the good-but-not-elite quarterback earned so much of the salary cap.
Minnesota carefully concocted a competitive roster rebuild in the last three offseasons. Tossing McCarthy aside for a man who utterly crumbled when it mattered the most in 2024 just seems backwards.
That’s why McCarthy won’t opt for the faux transfer portal. The request won’t even apply.
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 Vikings 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.