Former Vikings GM Believes His Old Team Will Overpay for JJ McCarthy

© Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

With the NFL Draft emerging less than a month away, speculation is mounting about the Minnesota Vikings' potential quarterback plans. The team's profound interest in Michigan's JJ McCarthy is becoming one of the league’s worst-kept secrets.

According to FOX Sports' Bruce Feldman, the Vikings are "very interested" in drafting McCarthy, who led the Wolverines to its first national championship victory since 1948. Feldman also believes Minnesota could trade up and acquire one of the top-five picks in the draft to do so. 

If General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is considering trading up into the top five picks of the NFL Draft, he has the resources to make it happen. This is thanks to the recent trade with the Houston Texans, which secured the No. 23 overall pick for the Vikings, the team’s second first-round pick in the 2024 draft.

Former Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman, along with Feldman, views McCarthy as the team’s top choice. During an appearance on CBS’ With the First Pick podcast, Spielman predicted the Vikings would gladly overpay to secure McCarthy in the draft.

“They’re [the Vikings] going to have to give [picks 11 and 23] and their 2025 first, plus some more draft capital,” Spielman said. “I think J.J. [McCarthy] will be a good pro, but Minnesota will overpay to get him. At this point, they don’t have a choice [given their current QB room].”

If the team is as enamored as rumored to be, there is a lot to like about McCarthy’s game. He’s a proven winner after finishing his Michigan career with a 27-1 record along with winning a national championship.

The former Wolverine finished this past season completing 72.3% of his passes for 2,991 yards and 22 touchdowns with only four interceptions. McCarthy also has dual-threat ability as he rushed for 202 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

With the NFL Draft approaching in a matter of weeks, it's evident that Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell are determined to secure the team's future franchise quarterback. Should McCarthy be their target, it seems they're prepared to take all necessary steps to ensure his arrival in the Twin Cities.