NFL Trade Speculation: Donovan McNabb to Minnesota Vikings and How It Would Work
Lockout or no lockout, Donovan McNabb trade rumors have been a hot topic during this extended NFL offseason. While several teams have been mentioned in relation to McNabb, the Minnesota Vikings remain the favorite to acquire the disowned Washington Redskins quarterback. With Christian Ponder likely holding a clipboard for his first season, the Vikings need an experienced quarterback to lead the offense.
The Vikings aren't far removed from the playoffs and have shown the willingness and ability to work with a veteran quarterback.
McNabb is no spring chicken, much like former Vikings quarterback Brett Favre, but has plenty left in the tank to get the Vikings back on track for their future franchise quarterback. Here are a few reasons how and why McNabb to Minnesota would work for the 2011-2012 NFL season.
Season with Redskins an Aberration
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A lot can be said about McNabb's season with the Redskins, but none of it would be complimentary. McNabb didn't have his familiar variety of weapons to choose from, and the Mike Shanahan/Kyle Shanahan brain trust could agree on how the offense should be run. The poor utilization of the run game and the lack of depth at wide receiver spelled disaster for McNabb.
Many fans expected more from the Redskins with proven coaches and an experience quarterback leading the offense, but what is Washington without disappointment?
Rumor has it, McNabb was unwilling to wear a wristband to get a better grasp of the offense. However, it was apparent from the beginning that the Shanahans weren't going to build their offense around McNabb. Kyle was content to abandon the run and act as though he still had Andre Johnson to throw to, while Mike went back and forth between taking the reigns on offense and letting his son do what he wanted.
McNabb suffered statistically, posting a 77.1 quarterback rating and finishing with more interceptions than touchdowns for the first time in his career as a full-time starter.
The Vikings may have undergone some change since the beginning of last season, but are already more organized and stable than the Redskins. Stability is what McNabb needs to succeed, and head coach Lezlie Frazier appears to have his act together.
Visanthe Shiancoe Would Be a Favorite Target
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McNabb has been a tight end-friendly quarterback for most of his career, and Visanthe Shiancoe is a dependable target. He has posted over 500 yards in each of the last three seasons to go along with 20 touchdowns. McNabb leaned on Chad Lewis, LJ Smith, and Brent Celek in his time with the Eagles, and threw for nearly 1,000 yards to Redskins tight ends Chris Cooley and Fred Davis last season.
A solid connection between McNabb and Shiancoe would go a long way toward establishing some level of comfort in McNabb's second new offense in as many years.
Shiancoe was a favorite redzone target for Brett Favre in 2009, accounting for 11 of the 21 touchdowns he has scored since joining the Vikings in 2007. The newly drafted Kyle Rudolph may lead the Vikings to use more two tight end sets, giving McNabb twice the big targets to rely on.
Sidney Rice Made Elite Once Again
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The Vikings offense was noticeably weaker last season with Sidney Rice missing 10 games while he recovered from offseason hip surgery. After his breakout season in 2009 and his solid showing late last season, Minnesota has every reason to believe that Rice is deserving of a long-term contract.
McNabb has had to make do with average wide receivers for most of his career, making a receiver like Rice a welcome luxury.
After two uneventful seasons in the NFL, Rice exploded for 1,300 yards and eight touchdowns with Favre at quarterback. McNabb is a veteran who makes it a point to develop chemistry with his receivers. He connected with Santana Moss for his career-high 93 receptions, and developed a 1,200 yard, 14 touchdown first-year relationship with Terrell Owens.
Rice has the size to go up and get passes and the speed to get by defenders and under deep passes. McNabb could do, and has done, a lot worse than Rice when it comes to receivers.
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Percy Harvin Due for a Breakout Year
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The standard waiting period for receiver development is three years. Some develop sooner, some develop later, others never reach their potential. Now heading into his third year, Percy Harvin improved his numbers last season out of necessity, but showed that he is still growing as a player.
McNabb has a history of developing chemistry with receivers relatively quickly, and Harvin could be his go-to receiver.
Harvin is the type of versatile player that McNabb has done well with in the past, and would see his numbers steadily increase with McNabb under center.
The Eagles ran a lot of screens to running backs with McNabb under center, but the Redskins never added that wrinkle to their offense. It isn't necessary for the Vikings to force Adrian Peterson to be a better receiver, but Harvin has the ability to catch and run from the slot.
Minnesota could install some receiver screens to force opposing defenses to commit coverage short, which would allow McNabb to fake the screen and deal deep on a stop-and-go route, for example. Harvin doesn't have the explosive speed that McNabb enjoyed in former teammate DeSean Jackson, but is capable of getting yards after the catch and scoring whenever he touches the ball.
He may not be the no.1 receiver for the Vikings, but Harvin could easily put up 1,000 yard season with McNabb under center.
Adrian Peterson Opens Up Play Action
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Adrian Peterson is a big, physical running back who will run through, over, and past every defender in his way or break every bone in their bodies trying. McNabb has never played with a pure runner like Peterson in his career, but it may be exactly what McNabb needs to recapture some of his former glory.
McNabb has always been a great play action quarterback, and having a rushing threat like Peterson to sell fakes to would open up the Vikings receivers down the field.
Accuracy has never been a strong suit of McNabb's, but he has always had a great arm. If Minnesota can run enough play action off of Peterson's running, McNabb would be able to launch the ball down the field and allow his receivers to run under it with ample room. In turn, teams have to decide if they want to commit to stopping the run, or cover deep, which opens things up for the offense and everyone involved.
There isn't much room for a hidden ball trick in the NFL, but McNabb selling a fake is about as close as it gets.
The Newest Chip on McNabb's Shoulder
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McNabb has had to deal with a lot of criticism throughout his career, even when he was winning games. He couldn't get the Eagles past the NFC Championship game until Terrell Owens in 2004, he choked (vomited) during the Super Bowl, he isn't a good enough passer. Now he has to fight back against the naysayers who are ready to say his career is over after his year with the Redskins.
After being benched in the fourth quarter of the Lions game, and for the final three games of the season, McNabb will want everyone that he is not washed-up, and Minnesota would be the beneficiary of that fire.
The Vikings need someone to lead the team until Christian Ponder is deemed fit to take over, and McNabb is the best option for their needs. He is experienced enough to lead the team, but doesn't have many years left to create a lasting quarterback controversy if he excels.
What makes McNabb even more enticing is that he may be released rather than traded, meaning the Vikings won't have to worry about what they would give up in a trade.
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