The Minnesota Vikings' future at quarterback is one of the biggest sources of trade fodder this offseason.
Their surplus of quarterback talent has led to an impasse between Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy. After winning 14 games with Darnold, the Vikings' window to contention was opened unexpectedly.
If Minnesota goes all-in and sticks with Darnold, that could lead to a trade involving McCarthy.
The price of that deal is purely speculation until a trade happens, but one trade pitch has turned heads for its excess.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell looks on during the second quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Sports Illustrated's Matthew Schmidt proposed the Vikings trade McCarthy and the 24th overall pick in this year's draft to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for the No. 2 overall pick.
The catch? Schmidt suggested a sweetener of an additional first-round pick.
That's two first-rounders and McCarthy in exchange for the second pick in this year's draft. Schmidt's suggestion would be the Vikings could land Travis Hunter at the end of that deal.
However, it would hemorrhage Minnesota's future.
Minnesota Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy passes against the Las Vegas Raiders during the 2024 preseason.
Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Yes, the Vikings have needs at cornerback and there's a world where Hunter would play some receiver as well. But even Hunter can't fill every need Minnesota could address with those picks and the cap space saved by sticking with McCarthy instead.
"Love these ridiculous articles about a guy who’s not available," one commenter wrote.
On top of five starters in the secondary either pending free agents or pondering retirement, the defensive and offensive lines in Minnesota need improvement.
More notably, the trade is not equitable.
"Why would the Vikes give up JJ and draft capital for the #2 pick," another commenter wrote."If anything, the Browns would need to give up next year’s #1 along with this year’s #2 pick."
According to the Over The Cap's trade calculator, which uses the Fitzgerald-Spielberger formula to value every pick in the draft, the 24th pick and a 2026 first-rounder are enough to land the Browns' No. 2 overall pick.
There is a premium for trading into the top five when it's a known effort to draft a quarterback. The San Francisco 49ers gave up three first-round picks and a third-rounder to select Trey Lance in 2021.
However, the Vikings would already have Darnold and be focused on building a better roster around him.
They should be searching for their own pick haul for McCarthy, selected 10th overall, not mortgaging the future to land a potential generational receiver/cornerback -- one of which they already have.
