Michigan QB JJ McCarthy continues to be connected to the Vikings, in a recent rumor they’re believed to be the favorite to select him in this week’s NFL Draft.
The Vikings currently hold the No. 11 and No. 23 picks in Thursday’s opening round of the NFL Draft. With Kirk Cousins now in Atlanta it is believed they’re firmly in the market for their QB of the future.
A recent SNY article reports that McCarthy is believed to be the Vikings’ top choice of the top QB prospects. With QB-needy teams like the Giants (No. 6), it would be presumed that they would have to trade up to guarantee they can get their guy.
The Giants are also in the mix for the Michigan QB according to the report, but without the same draft capital, the Vikings are believed to have far more ammo to make a move to land McCarthy.
NFL Draft week is usually filled with rumors and smoke screens and McCarthy might be the most polarizing prospect in the class. According to most recent betting markets, the Vikings (+170) have the best odds to draft him, ahead of the Patriots (+380), Giants (+450) and Broncos (+500). But his odds to be the No. 2 overall pick to the Washington Commanders have shifted from as high as 17-1 to 9-1 as of Monday morning.
McCarthy has also been heavily connected to the Patriots. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer rumored that he, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels seem to be in the mix at No. 3. With a first-year head coach and new front office, the Draft seems to hinge on what New England will do.
After the presumptive No. 1 pick Caleb Williams, there seem to be five first-round worthy quarterbacks, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, JJ McCarthy, Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix. The Vikings have been connected to all of them at some point and time, but the noise with McCarthy seems to continue to only get louder.
