Vikings Nopedy Nopes: J.J. McCarthy Nonsense, the Jalen Ramsey Trade, Sam Howell Deal
Minnesota Vikings “nopedy nopes” are items from the week that are wild, false, bombastic, or a true “nope” regarding a Vikings-themed development.
For the Vikings Nodedy Nopes this week, we peek at J.J. McCarthy, Jalen Ramsey, and Sam Howell theories.
We publish them every Sunday, and last week’s edition can be read here, with the overall series history here.
Here’s this week’s.
The Nopedy Nope: The Vikings aren’t that sold on J.J. McCarthy. They’re rolling with him because Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones wouldn’t come back for 2025.
NFL analyst and former lineman Ross Tucker stopped by SKOR North this week and unloaded quite the J.J. McCarthy take.
Tucker opined, “It’s not just his rookie year. He missed so much practice time. It would be unusual if he didn’t have some serious growing pains. And I’ll say this, too, guys: No matter what the Vikings say about J.J. McCarthy, how much they love him, and you know, ‘he’s the guy,’ they wanted Sam Darnold back.”
“And then, when they weren’t going to get Darnold back, they wanted Daniel Jones back. Right? They were offering these guys pretty darn good money. So, as much as they’re sold on J.J. McCarthy, they weren’t that sold, right?”
Minnesota has proceeded for the last two months with McCarthy as their man — with no hesitations.
Tucker added, “They offered these guys over $10 million bucks a year to come and be their quarterback for this year or at least give them that option. So, they have some doubt there about McCarthy and how ready he’ll be, especially early. I peg the Vikings and the Bears probably between seven and nine wins.”
Offering Darnold or Jones $10 million or just over is not some huge sign that the Vikings aren’t totally comfortable with McCarthy. What are we doing here?
If Minnesota offered Darnold or Jones $12 million and they declined, it symbolized a hard cut-off for their QB2 plan — not a QB1 arrangement.
McCarthy is the unabashed QB1.
Verdict: Nopedy Nope on Tucker’s wild claim.
The Nopedy Nope: ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler pretty much said “nope” on the Jalen Ramsey trade to Minnesota.
Fowler talked with KFAN this week, pouring cold water on Ramsey-Vikings trade rumors.
Fowler remarked, “I’ve thought about that with the Vikings. I did check on that. I do not, unless something changes with the money, then maybe they would get involved. From what I was told, the money would sort of a non-starter for Minnesota. I wouldn’t totally take it off the table, but I don’t have them on my short list.”
“I still have the Rams, and then it’s hard to figure out which team is going to be the mystery team. Seattle interests me because they have been looking at free agent corners, and they wanted to draft a corner and didn’t, so they still have a need there. And then Washington, from what I’ve heard, at least looked into it at one point.”
Ramsey to Minnesota is mostly in play because he worked with Kevin O’Connell with the Rams four years ago.
Fowler continued, “But a lot of these teams are spooked by the money because of the $24 million guaranteed. The Rams are sort of waiting it out. It’s really interesting. I do think it’ll get done, I just don’t know what it’s going to look like financially.”
“But I know he’s supposed to get traded in somewhat short order, so I think in the next week or two I could see it coming together.”
Verdict: Fowler said Nopedy Nope on Ramsey to Minnesota.
The Nopedy Nope: The Vikings could trade Sam Howell to the Atlanta Falcons for Kirk Cousins.
ESPN’s Seth Walder analyzed big trades for the NFL this summer. He claimed Minnesota should send Howell to Atlanta for Cousins.
Walder provided details: “Offer: Falcons get: QB Sam Howell, cash considerations. Vikings get: Cousins. Why this deal makes sense for both sides: The key to the compensation for a Cousins deal is how much of his guaranteed money the acquiring team will take on. I’ll raise Dan’s offer and say the Vikings pay $12 million of it. This would allow Atlanta to save a little face and get out of the situation with a different backup quarterback.”
“For Minnesota, the upgrade at backup QB is more important because of the McCarthy situation. Cousins will have to accept a lesser role with his old team, but at least he’d be reunited with coach Kevin O’Connell.”
Cousins wants a QB1 job. A QB1 job is not open in Minnesota. Why would Cousins approve a lateral trade from Minnesota to Atlanta, two spots with open QB2 gigs? It doesn’t make sense.
Verdict: Nopedy Nope on the chances of Minnesota wanting Cousins back or him wanting Minnesota’s QB2 post.
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