The first trade of Thursday’s opening round has taken place. The Jets have sent the 10th overall pick to the Vikings, also dealing No. 203. In exchange, New York will receive Nos. 129 and 157 from Minnesota in addition to the 11th choice.
With the No. 10 pick, the Vikings have selected Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The national champion represents the fifth quarterback to be selected so far, and his addition means each of the first 10 selections are players on the offensive side of the ball.
McCarthy was one of the surprise early risers in the pre-draft process. For much of his college career, including his final season with the Wolverines, McCarthy was not considered a first-round talent. Shortly after winning the College Football Playoff Championship with Michigan, McCarthy began to shoot up draft boards. He would eventually solidify his status as a likely Day 1 pick with his performances at the NFL scouting combine and his pro day.
In Minnesota, the Vikings will have the opportunity to sit McCarthy for at least a year to learn and develop behind the newly acquired Sam Darnold. There’s always a chance that McCarthy could surpass Darnold for a starting job as a rookie, but between McCarthy’s lack of production at the college level and Darnold’s experience in the NFL, it makes sense to let McCarthy marinate.
The Vikings could’ve sat back and addressed other positions of need on the offensive line and defense, instead they opted to part with two Day 3 picks in order to ensure no one moved ahead of them to take McCarthy. This could have been aimed at boxing out the Broncos, who were believed to have been interested in the ex-Jim Harbaugh starter. Sitting one spot ahead of Denver, Minnesota did not need to use the second first-round pick it acquired (via Houston) to nab its quarterback. Based on where mock drafts had the Vikings trading up to in order to nab McCarthy, moving from 11 to 10 represents good value. The Broncos ended up with Bo Nix two spots later, completing a staggering stretch that brought six QBs in the first 12 picks.
This is also the first time in franchise history, the Vikings have selected a quarterback in the top 10, though Daunte Culpepper and Christian Ponder were chosen just outside that point. McCarthy, 21, will be the player tabbed at succeeding Kirk Cousins in the long term. The Vikings were not believed to have come especially close to where the Falcons went for Cousins, who received $100MM in practical guarantees in March.
Both Cousins’ new team and old team chose QBs in the top 10, and the Vikings still have the No. 23 overall pick to bolster their roster around their Cousins heir apparent. Cousins’ former weaponry cadre — consisting of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson, with Aaron Jones now in the mix — will begin to work with a QB nearly 15 years younger (along with Darnold, for the time being) soon.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
Well played Jets.
Man when’s the last time I said THAT?
Haha, for real. I was thinking the same thing though. They lost absolutely nothing with this trade. Solid move.
Jets got them on this deal.
Really they got them? They got a forge and fifth round pick that we’d most likely going to be backups. Not a real impressive haul. Yes it is only one spot so they were not going too get a ton. They did good but did not “get them”
When you didn’t have to trade then yes you were got.
I didn’t say it was impressive haul, but backups play key roles and injuries happen a lot anyways.
The Vikings kinda had to trade, otherwise that pick could have gone to Vegas or Denver
Jets gained value, according to every draft value chart out there. And yes, they got two probable backup players while giving up nothing. Your comment reflects an unrealistic view of how draft position trades work.
He wins, but I think the Michigan teams were so good they didn’t need him to make those major throws.
McCarthy is going to need some development and experience, and I’m not totally sold on him, but this seems like the best scenario for him with O’Connell, a strong receiving corps, and two solid tackles.
As a Jets fan, hey, free party favors.
Not sure I understand the logic of trading up. Was there actually a chance the Jets would have drafted McCarthy? Wouldn’t that have just pissed AR off to have that happen for the second time in his career?
My guess is MN was worried that Denver or another QB needy team would make a similar swap with the Jets and take McCarthy before they had a chance. MN was much more excited about McCarthy than Nix.
That’s a good point, I hadn’t considered that. Didn’t cost a ton to be sure.
Great finesse by jets. They probably told Minnesota that other teams wanted to move up with them and scared Vikings into giving up picks haha
He’s either the next Tom Brady or Christian Ponder, no in-betweens.
Lol then he is the next Christian Ponder because there is a 0% chance he turns into the next Tom Brady.
I grew up a Bear’s fan (please, be kind, I realize my mistake!) and I honestly like McCarthy more than I do Williams. I believe McCarthy will develop into a more well rounded QB than Williams. Bets anyone?
Why does he have to be the next Tom Brady who wasn’t even selected in the first round to be considered a success? Being the buckeye fan I am this kid annoyed me, he definitely has something there and Viking fans now go from a QB scared of his own shadow to a QB who seems to have a desire to make something happen.