Jarrett Bailey’s preseason prediction list has plenty for Vikings fans to chew on, but the one that really jumps off the page is this: Vikings trade J.J. McCarthy to Ravens.
Bailey’s piece also includes Stefon Diggs signing with the Dallas Cowboys, Justin Jefferson trade rumors beginning, Danielle Hunter finishing in the top five in the NFL in sacks, and Nahshon Wright landing in the top five in interceptions. But the McCarthy call sits near the top of the list, and it lands at a moment when the NFL news cycle is already starved for anything real.
Bailey’s case for the move is blunt. He writes:
The writing is on the wall for J.J. McCarthy.
The Vikings won 14 games with Sam Darnold, didn’t bring him back, and then watched him win a Super Bowl while they limped to a 9-8 record. McCarthy completed less than 60 percent of his passes with 11 touchdowns to 12 interceptions.
He gets dealt to Baltimore and Jesse Minter, who won a National Championship with McCarthy at Michigan as the Wolverines’ defensive coordinator.
That Minter connection is the part that feels the least convincing from here. There just doesn’t seem to be much smoke there.
But Bailey’s broader idea - that Baltimore could be thinking ahead if Lamar Jackson’s situation starts to get noisy - does at least fit the logic of the prediction list. His No. 58 prediction is “Murmurs of Lamar Jackson leaving Baltimore get loud,” and that does make the Ravens’ quarterback room worth a second look.
Behind Jackson, Baltimore’s depth chart includes Tyler Huntley, Joe Fagnano and Diego Pavia.
The Vikings’ situation behind Kyler Murray is framed as similar, with McCarthy and Carson Wentz potentially interchangeable and Max Brosmer listed fourth. According to Alec Lewis of The Athletic, the Vikings are still “ bullish ” on Brosmer. Wentz, meanwhile, is viewed as someone who has the acumen, personality and toughness to handle the No. 2 job for a full season.
That’s where the debate gets interesting. If Wentz is ready to be active from the start, does McCarthy really look untouchable?
My answer is no - but I still don’t think a trade makes sense. McCarthy’s value is low right now, and there’s no reason to force a move when the roster already has a quarterback setup that can absorb some uncertainty.
Murray played five games last season and has played more than 16 just three times, with only one such season in the last five years. That makes the idea of pairing him with McCarthy, while Wentz sits as the third option, a pretty sensible arrangement.
Brosmer also has a role here. Keeping him through final cuts makes sense because he can help cover injuries, especially with Wentz coming off a terrible shoulder injury last year. And if he doesn’t stick on the 53, he would appear to have a real chance of clearing waivers and landing on the practice squad.
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