Vikings Trade Pitch Swaps J.J. McCarthy for $125M All-Pro Edge Rusher

The Minnesota Vikings will enter next season with more talent at quarterback than they can use, which argues for trading either Sam Darnold or J.J. McCarthy this offseason. 

Recent projections put McCarthy's trade value at up to three draft picks, including a first-rounder in the top 10 this April. However, he might also be worth an established and elite performer who could contribute immediately to Minnesota's current Super Bowl window.

The Vikings play a blitz-heavy style of defense under coordinator Brian Flores that relies heavily on pressuring and confusing opposing quarterbacks while asking the secondary to work frequently at a disadvantage. 

However, that disadvantage would be lessened if Minnesota can add another elite pass rusher alongside Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel -- both of whom have proven high-value pickups by the franchise from last offseason. 

While both players were Pro Bowlers in 2024, and Van Ginkel also earned second-team All-Pro honors, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is a considerably superior defender to each of them. 

ESPN's Dan Orlovsky pitched a trade concept on Friday, Jan. 10, in which the Vikings extend Darnold then swap McCarthy for either Garrett or the No. 2 overall pick. 

[Cleveland is] $63 million in the red for next year’s cap, so you’re not replacing the quarterback position with something expensive. ... The only two assets that are worth a lot that the Cleveland Browns have are the No. 2 pick and Myles Garrett.

I think they will, at some point, have to entertain calling the Minnesota Vikings if they don’t like somebody in the draft and saying, "Are you willing to part with J.J. McCarthy?"

McCarthy's draft grade last year was higher than the grades of both Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Miami's Cam Ward heading into this year's proceedings. By dealing Garrett, the NFL's reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Cleveland can spark a rebuild with McCarthy and the No. 2 pick, which they could also trade to a QB-needy squad like the Las Vegas Raiders or New York Giants for a massive haul. 

Meanwhile, the Vikings could add perhaps the best pure pass rusher in football (102.5 career sacks in 117 games played) to a roster poised to win right now. Garrett, a first-team All-Pro for the fourth time in 2024, has two years remaining on his $125 million deal.