It’s On to the Next Wild Vikings QB Theory
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy enjoyed the QB1 title in spirit for a few hours before some segments of Vikings-themed media decided a new conspiracy theory would apply.
It’s On to the Next Wild Vikings QB Theory
NFL Network announced Wednesday morning that Minnesota would not participate in the Aaron Rodgers sweepstakes and that McCarthy would lead the team in 2025 and beyond.
Soon after, a familiar theory returned — a Justin Herbert trade to the Vikings for McCarthy.
A Justin Herbert Trade to MIN for J.J. McCarthy
Last offseason, some speculated that general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could trade his then 12th overall draft pick in a package to the Los Angeles Chargers for Herbert.
Of course, that never happened, but some credible portions of NFL media claimed that Minnesota had poked around Herbert’s availability before locking in the McCarthy selection.
Most considered a Herbert-McCarthy swap a figment of the 2024 offseason, but nope — the idea is back. The theory goes like this: Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh might want his college quarterback in Tinseltown. The two won a National Championship together in 2023.
FOX Sports’ Nick Wright led the charge, advancing the speculation last week. He argued, “The Vikings should quietly call the Chargers. Be like, ‘Hey, Jim Harbaugh, this guy J.J. McCarthy, who you said was the best quarterback you ever coached, the best quarterback in your draft, will give you him and our first-round pick, and we’ll take Justin Herbert.”
It’s worth noting that this isn’t necessarily a “rumor.” Instead, a pundit advanced the idea that “the Vikings ought to do this.”
“The contract is tradable. Kevin O’Connell clearly thinks Darnold’s not good enough, which I agree with him. Jim Harbaugh, could really do the whole Michigan thing with a cheap quarterback, not have the obligation to run the ball or to pass the ball a ton,” Wright added.
Fast forward to Wednesday, and SKOR North, a Minneapolis-based outlet with a decently-sized audience, produced an entire segment about Herbert to Minnesota. The show’s hosts claimed they had received a few anonymous emails indicating that a Herbert-McCarthy trade would finalize before the draft on April 24th.
You can watch that footage here.
No More Aaron Rodgers Steam
How’d we get there? Well, on Wednesday, the who’s who of NFL reporting announced that Aaron Rodgers’ dream of turning purple wouldn’t materialize.
NFL Network‘s Tom Pelissero posted to X, “The Vikings have rejected multiple trade calls on J.J. McCarthy, telling other teams they’re moving forward with him as their quarterback, sources say. The team plans to add a veteran. But they’re not pursuing Aaron Rodgers at this time. McCarthy now enters the offseason as QB1.”
“The Vikings continue to explore multiple options for a veteran QB addition, whether through free agency or a trade. Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers’ options are now focused on the Steelers and Giants.”
That tweet all but ended Rodgers-to-Vikings offseason theories, which were the only thing separating McCarthy from his claim to QB1.
Why Herbert to Vikings Doesn’t Add Up
Apparently, Harbaugh would reunite with McCarthy — who he adores — and Herbert would lead Minnesota for the next 5-10 years. After another frustrating playoff appearance and loss two months ago, Herbert’s reputation isn’t totally sterling right now.
Wright insists the contract is “tradable,” but the Chargers would eat about $95 million in dead cap before June 1st, which does not seem like wise roster planning. Otherwise, the clubs could hold off on a trade until after June 1st, when the dead money would check in around $22 million for Los Angeles (with plenty more coming in 2026).
The Chargers have the “hard part” figured out — a Top 10 quarterback lives on their roster. They won’t swallow a gallon of dead cap to hop in bed on a maybe-he’ll-be-good asset in McCarthy.
Just Let It Ride with McCarthy
Perhaps these McCarthy theories run roughshod because Vikings fans aren’t used to this.
In most seasons, Minnesota has a veteran quarterback in the saddle, and everyone hopes that man will lead the team to glory. It’s just that it never works. That has never worked.
Adofo-Mensah chose a different approach during his competitive rebuild process, drafting McCarthy and jettisoning Kirk Cousins to free agency. Creators of Rodgers + Herbert fodder should just let it be. That is — allow the Vikings to sink or swim with McCarthy.
Finding other teams’ veteran quarterbacks has netted Minnesota an NFC Championship ceiling in the last 50 years. Time to try something new. Like McCarthy.
Vikings Sign Speedster at WR
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 MIN 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.
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