The Minnesota Vikings apparently had a much different quarterback plan in mind during the 2024 NFL Draft.
According to ESPN insider Kevin Seifert, the Vikings “pushed hard” to move up to No. 3 for Drake Maye because they did not believe J.J. McCarthy was ready to take over. Seifert wrote, “In the case of McCarthy, who was 21 at the time, the Vikings thought he might need multiple years before it was time to play him.”
That push reportedly came from then-general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who worked until the last minute to try to get the Patriots to slide down eight spots. Head coach Kevin O'Connell was also firmly in the mix. Seifert reported, “(Head coach Kevin) O'Connell pushed hard to trade up from No. 11 to No. 3 to select Maye, but the New England Patriots turned down Adofo-Mensah's offer.”
The Patriots were never moving off the UNC quarterback. ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported after the draft that New England rejected a package that included Minnesota’s Nos. 11 and 23 picks, plus a 2025 first-rounder, in exchange for No. 3 and two mid-round picks.
That decision looks pretty good for New England now. Maye led the Patriots to the Super Bowl in his first full season as a starter, became the face of the franchise, and finished one first-place vote short of winning his first MVP.
Seifert also reported that O'Connell believed McCarthy could still grow into a franchise quarterback, as long as the Vikings could keep Sam Darnold or another veteran in place as the starter for a couple of years. But that did not happen. With Adofo-Mensah no longer in the building, McCarthy’s future in Minnesota now looks bleak at best.
In Other News...
Izzo Is Betting On A Michigan State Formula Fans Know Well
Tom Izzo has never hidden where he stands on roster building, and this fall he sounded like a coach comfortable leaning into the approach that long defined Michigan State basketball. Rather than chasing the transfer portal as his primary fix, Izzo has preferred bringing in players straight out of high school and then molding them over time, a formula Spartans fans have seen work before. This years roster reflects that balance, with one transfer joining a highly ranked recruiting class as Michigan State tries to mix youthful upside with some added experience.
It is a familiar-looking bet, and one that carries the usual questions about how quickly newcomers can settle in and how much patience the team will need early. The Spartans will get their first public look on October 2, when they open exhibition play against Incarnate Word, giving Izzo and his new group an early chance to show how well the pieces fit before the season starts to matter for real. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State May Have Found An Offense Defenses Hate Preparing For
Michigan State has leaned into a dual-quarterback setup with Cam Sheridan and Les Fancher, a wrinkle designed to make the offense harder to sort out from week to week. The coaching staff has framed the arrangement as complementary rather than competitive, with both quarterbacks capable of running the system while bringing different skill sets to the table.
For a defense, that can mean extra prep and fewer clean tells before the snap, especially when the Spartans are willing to keep both players involved in the plan. Pat Fitzgerald and the players have talked about the approach in practical terms, and the early results suggest Michigan State is trying to build something versatile enough to keep opponents guessing even before the game starts. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Faces Early Depth Concerns Before Nebraska Opener
Michigan State heads into its Big Ten opener against Nebraska carrying a thinner roster than it would like, a reality that always looms a little larger in September when teams are still trying to sort out roles and stay healthy. The matchup is set for Saturday at Spartan Stadium and will air on the Big Ten Network, but the bigger storyline for the Spartans may be simply getting enough bodies ready to handle the start of conference play.
The injury list already includes six players ruled out, and the concern does not stop there, with three more Spartans still listed as questionable. For a team trying to steady itself against a Nebraska group that will test depth right away, every unavailable piece matters, especially on a day when the margins tend to tighten and early-season attrition can shape the tone of the league race. [Read more 🡒]