Vikings Must Ignore J.J. McCarthy Trade Talk, Keep QB of the Future amid NFL Rumors

The Minnesota Vikings have a dilemma at the quarterback position.

With Sam Darnold, signed last offseason as a bridge option, blossoming into a full-fledged NFL MVP candidate, Minnesota's future with last year's 10th overall pick, J.J. McCarthy, is suddenly uncertain.

If the Vikings wanted to entertain trade talks for the 21-year-old, who missed his would-be rookie season after suffering a meniscus tear in the preseason, they could reportedly fetch quite the haul.

"There's talk that J.J. could bring three draft picks, which would include the No. 1 pick overall, by the way," ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. said (6:40 mark) during a mock draft session with ESPN's Field Yates. "OK, so that's in the discussion because it could be a possibility."

That would, admittedly, be quite the haul, and it's one Minnesota would have to consider if it is fully convinced that Sam Darnold can be its franchise quarterback.

But the Vikings can't possibly have that level of confidence in Darnold already, can they?

Granted, he's had an objectively awesome season. He piloted the team to 14 wins while setting a slew of career-highs, including his 4,319 passing yards (fifth overall) and 35 passing touchdowns (also fifth).

These numbers weren't merely new personal-bests, though. They absolutely obliterated Darnold's previous high marks in the categories: 3,024 passing yards and 19 passing touchdowns. Not exactly franchise quarterback-caliber production, right?

Look, maybe the stars took longer than expected to align, and this previous draft-bust has suddenly figured out how to tap into the abilities that once made the third overall pick (by the New York Jets if your memory is the slightest bit fuzzy) of the 2018 draft. Does a single season truly transform a player's place on the NFL hierarchy, though?

Now, this doesn't mean the Vikings should outright dismiss what Darnold is doing now just because he wasn't doing these things before. They can't, however, automatically assume this is his new normal. Not yet, anyway.

Minnesota needs more time to figure this out. Darnold absolutely deserves consideration to run it back with this bunch, but remember, giving him that chance could be quite costly. He's headed to free agency after the Vikings' playoff run and will be, in the words of their offensive coordinator Wes Phillips, "a sought-after type of guy."

That's probably an understatement, by the way.

Virtually every team with questions at the quarterback spot figures to give Darnold a long look. He is, without question, the best free agent at the position. Not to mention, evaluators seem pretty underwhelmed with this draft's quarterback class. McCarthy, for what it's worth, would be regarded as "the No. 1 quarterback" if he was a part of this class, several executives and coaches told The Athletic's Jeff Howe.

That's why McCarthy's potential is paramount to Minnesota's conversations on Darnold. If the Vikings believe he can be their quarterback of the future—and their 2024 draft investment strongly suggests they do—then they can't bring Darnold back on a long-term deal.

Now, a short-term agreement, like perhaps using the franchise tag on Darnold, might be best for all parties involved. The Vikings wouldn't have to decide between the quarterback they just drafted 10th overall and the one who just delivered their second-most wins in franchise history. McCarthy wouldn't have an obstacle blocking his path indefinitely. And while Darnold figures to see some healthy offers in free agency, he'd blow them out of the water if he returned to the open market next season having delivered another campaign of this quality.

Granted, it's anyone's guess as to whether Darnold would be satisfied with such an arrangement, but if he's looking for a longer, richer contract, the Vikings should let someone else give it to him.

They spent a premium draft pick on McCarthy for a reason, and it wasn't to turn him into a trade chip one year later. He is supposed to be a foundational talent for the franchise, and they shouldn't deviate from that dream regardless of what Darnold has done.