JJ McCarthy, Vikings
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Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy
The Minnesota Vikings remain a haven for quarterbacks pining for an opportunity, including New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler.
Appearing on NFL Network’s “Up & Adams” with Kay Adams, DeSean Jackson offered his input on which team Rattler, facing trade rumors with the Saints in range to draft a blue-chip quarterback this offseason, should join.
“I think Minnesota. Going over there with [Justin Jefferson], man. I think that’d be a good fit for him. They need a quarterback, too,” Jackson said on February 23.
Rattler, 25, said what many quarterbacks are thinking with J.J. McCarthy seemingly losing his hold on the starting job.
“It’d be a blessing to play there, for sure. Got a lot of weapons. Kevin O’Connell, that’s a lot of plays. A lot of throwing. Definitely. That’d be good, man,” Rattler added.
Spencer Rattler, JJ McCarthy QB Room Far From Encouraging for Vikings
Entering this offseason, the Vikings set a mandate to improve the quarterback room after McCarthy, Carson Wentz and rookie Max Brosmer combined for a 9-8 record, just missing the postseason.
McCarthy went 6-4 as a starter, but missing seven games has further derailed the plans for his development to align with the rest of the roster’s readiness to compete for a championship.
Last offseason, the Vikings banked on McCarthy being ready before seeing him ever play a live-action snap in an NFL game. Ten games isn’t a huge body of work to build upon entering what owner Mark Wilf called a “critical” offseason.
That leaves the organization searching for an insurance policy for its investment in McCarthy. That could mean a true competition in training camp, and Rattler may not fit that bill. The 2024 fifth-round pick is 1-13 as a starter for a New Orleans team undergoing a rebuild.
But beyond his record, Rattler made strides in his second season.
He completed 73.5% of his pass attempts and threw for 207 yards, three touchdowns and a 118.1 passer rating in a Week 2 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Outside of a three-interception game against the Chicago Bears, Rattler took care of the ball and executed as a game manager.
The floor is high for a quarterback who can do that in Kevin O’Connell’s offense.
However, neither Rattler nor McCarthy are as proven as other options that are available to the Vikings to explore.
Vikings QB Trade Targets
The Vikings can go two routes to land reasonable competition to McCarthy this offseason: by trade or through free agency.
Aaron Rodgers, Marcus Mariota, Jimmy Garoppolo are veteran options who could take a team-friendly, one-year deal.
The trade market offers potential off-ramps of the McCarthy plan and should be considered long-term options, given the required draft capital it would take to acquire them.
Kyler Murray, Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones headline the quarterbacks who are likely trade candidates. For Murray and Tagovailoa, the Vikings could wait and see if their teams will release them.
However, the Vikings should seek a handshake deal after their plans to re-sign Daniel Jones blew up in the organization’s face last offseason.