Vikings Myths and Misses: Trading J.J. McCarthy, Scooby Williams, Jaren Hall
On Sundays, we post the Minnesota Vikings’ “nopedy nopes” for the week — stuff that is wrong, bizarre, or didn’t work out as most planned. It’s basically a journal of bad takes and Vikings-themed theories gone bad.
Minnesota’s rumor cleanup list gets another round.
This is the May 17th edition, with most of the meaty parts of the offseason in the rearview.
Three Vikings Talking Points Need a Closer Look
The Vikings’ Nopedy Nopes for May 17th, 2026.
The Nopedy Nope: The Vikings could have traded — or still might trade — J.J. McCarthy to a new team.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano examined the NFL’s “10 lingering offseason questions” this week and discussed why McCarthy had not been traded.
He noted, “It doesn’t make a lot of sense to trade him. The Vikings have already paid 70% of McCarthy’s rookie contract. There’s no way they could get anything in return that remotely approaches what they spent in terms of draft capital to acquire him in the first place. They’re less than a year removed from believing he could be their starter, not just now but for years to come.”
“And it’s not like Murray is some automatic fix, either. He has had one fully healthy season in the past five, and the Cardinals are paying him almost $36 million this year to play for another team. People I’ve talked to who are close to this situation insist that the Vikings haven’t given up on McCarthy — that part of their hope is bringing in Murray sends some sort of shock to McCarthy’s system and gets him refocused on whatever they think he got away from last year.”
McCarthy tallied 15 total touchdowns and 12 interceptions last season in 10 starts.
Graziano continued, “It’s probably a long shot, but again, there doesn’t seem to be much they would gain from trading him at this point. Murray is signed for one year, and his deal prohibits the Vikings from franchise-tagging him next offseason.”
“There’s a world in which Minnesota gets to the end of this season believing that McCarthy has figured some things out and can still be what it thought he would be. If not, maybe then the Vikings cut bait. But there’s no reason to do it now.”
That’s the word from ESPN: a McCarthy trade is probably a no-go.
The Verdict: Nopedy nope on the Vikings trading McCarthy just because they signed Kyler Murray.
The Nopedy Nope: UDFA LB Scooby Williams could latch on as a long-term contributor.
In-the-weeds Vikings fans on Twitter (X) asked late last week, “Where’s Scooby?” The man was not included on the Vikings’ rookie minicamp roster, though the club signed him in undrafted free agency three weeks ago.
A few days later, there’s an explanation. SI.com‘s Will Ragatz wrote, “Williams attended the combine but never did athletic testing in the pre-draft process for injury reasons, and it appears a medical issue has resulted in him not officially putting pen to paper with the Vikings. The Vikings’ official website’s story on the 19 UDFAs has a May 11 update that states ‘Williams did not sign with the Vikings.'”
“That explains why he wasn’t on the roster for last Friday’s rookie minicamp, which some astute diehard fans noticed. And on Tuesday, replying to one of those fans on X, The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis reported that an issue with Williams’ physical is the reason.”
Williams will have to regroup, bide his time, and try out for the Vikings or another team later this summer.
The Verdict: Nopedy nope on Scooby in the Vikings’ summer plans.
The Nopedy Nope: Jaren Hall would have staying power in the NFL.
Hall was pretty straightforward on Instagram this week, writing on Wednesday, “There’s a lot I could say, but mostly I just feel grateful. Sports have been woven into nearly every part of my life- they’ve challenged me, humbled me, shaped my faith, introduced me to lifelong friendships, and given me experiences I never could have imagined.”
“From growing up in this community to representing my hometown, to having the opportunity to play in the NFL, it has all been a blessing. What I’ll carry most isn’t the milestones, but the people– teammates, coaches, family, and a community that supported me every step of the way.”
The Vikings drafted in Round 5 of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Hall closed the message, “My heart is full as I close this chapter and finish my football career. I’m thankful to everyone who’s been part of the journey. The game has given me more than I could ever give back.”
Hall flamed out of the UFL in January, and that was evidently his sign to call it quits.
The Verdict: Nopedy nope on Hall latching on in the NFL with long-term staying power.
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