SerpApi.Org
We’re truly in a brutal time in the NFL news cycle.
Training camps haven’t opened up yet and free agency lists are more or less barren — unless you’re looking at the media landscape and/or previously worked for ESPN.
This time of year lends itself to preseason predictions. Sometimes they’re bold, sometimes they’re beautiful, but in the case of Jarrett Bailey’s piece that just dropped on main, they’re a bit of both.
There’s no shortage of Vikings-adjacent angles therein. Bailey has Stefon Diggs signing with the Dallas Cowboys as his first prediction, for one.
One particularly bothersome prediction — at least from this purview — is his No. 20 point: Justin Jefferson trade rumors begin.
Bailey also predicts former Vikings edge defender Danielle Hunter will finish in the top five in the NFL in sacks, while Nahshon Wright appears in his top five in interceptions, as well.
And while the Jefferson bit may be the thorn that sticks in the sides of Vikings fans most painfully, it’s Bailey’s No. 3 prediction overall that might prick up ears in a different manner.
Vikings trade J.J. McCarthy to Ravens
It’s not altogether surprising that outside observers are looking into McCarthy exit strategies. Heck, it’s not hard to find fans and media types locally who are doing the same.
But does it make sense to trade McCarthy now with the season nigh and his trade value ostensibly at an all-time low?
First, let’s consider what Bailey has to say:
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.
My immediate reaction is that I’m not sure there’s enough smoke between McCarthy and his former defensive coordinator, but let’s table that for the time being.
Bailey’s No. 58 prediction is “Murmurs of Lamar Jackson leaving Baltimore get loud” and in that case, I think, dovetails quite nicely with the Ravens acquiring a quarterback.
Much more so than the Minter angle, anyway.
If the Ravens have even the slightest idea that Jackson could become a squeaky wheel, having a backup plan in place is a reasonable idea.
Baltimore’s depth chart at quarterback behind Jackson includes Tyler Huntley, Joe Fagnano and Diego Pavia.
That’s not entirely different than the Vikings behind Kyler Murray, with McCarthy and Carson Wentz potentially interchangeable and Max Brosmer in the No. 4 spot.
The Vikings are reportedly still “bullish” on Brosmer, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic, and Wentz certainly has the acumen, personality and requisite toughness to be the team’s No. 2 quarterback for a full season.
Assuming Wentz is fully ready to be active from the jump, is it that unreasonable to suggest McCarthy has one foot out the door?
In my personal opinion, I do not think it makes sense to deal McCarthy. His value, again, is at an all-time low. Murray played five games last season and has played more than 16 just three times (and just once in the last five seasons).
The diminutive but talented signal-caller is enough of an injury risk that pairing him with McCarthy and having Wentz as the third wheel is actually quite a nice, complementary trio.
Keeping Brosmer around until the final cuts makes a ton of sense. Not only does he protect in case of injury — and considering Wentz had a terrible shoulder injury last year, besides — of any of the three passers ahead of him, but he would seem to have a reasonable chance of passing through waivers and joining the team’s practice squad.
I’m willing to be wrong.
I’m willing to hear people’s disagreements.
Tell me where you stand in the comments below.
