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Insider Suggests MN Vikings Target Change in Scenery at QB
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- Insider Suggests MN Vikings Target Change in Scenery at QB
Kevin Ng-Imagn Images Kevin Ng-Imagn Images
There is no more important feat for the Minnesota Vikings to achieve this offseason than a level of quarterback certainty. They thought that existed in J.J. McCarthy when targeting him in the first round of the NFL Draft. Last season's 9-8 record , unavailability, and overall poor performance showed that not to be the case.
Now, without a set general manager , the MN Vikings must choose a different path . Not only that, but they must be right, and they have to get it right, right away. Any number of signal callers could be interested in Minnesota.
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That's good news, but there are varying degrees of compensation that complicates each circumstance. Bill Barnwell (ESPN) is certain he has the right move though.
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Mac Jones worth MN Vikings trading picks
The San Francisco 49ers hit gold when finding their quarterback of the future with the 262nd pick of the 2022 NFL Draft . Brock Purdy has been an incredible come up, and that renders a quality backup like Mac Jones a bit of a luxury. Insider Bill Barnwell sees that as the path Minnesota should explore.
The Deal:
Vikings get:QB Mac Jones, 2027 third-round pick
49ers get: 2026 second-round pick, 2027 fifth-round pick (conditional), 2028 third-round pick (conditional)
This would be sort of a complicated trade, but the Vikings would be adding a quarterback who showed some of his former upside in San Francisco. Jones posted a 62.3 Total QBR during his lone season with the 49ers, coming in a little more than 10 points behind Brock Purdy's 73.0 mark. Jones is due just $4.7 million in 2026, which will be the final year of his contract. And of course, we know that the Vikings have been willing to take a swing on quarterbacks who have gone through the Kyle Shanahan rejuvenation cycle before, having signed Sam Darnold after the Super Bowl champion's only year in San Francisco.
There are levels of protection here for both sides. While the Minnesota Vikings would quickly need to determine if Jones is worthy of a contract extension, the second round pick is guarded by gaining back a third rounder. If Jones works out though, swapping two additional picks becomes less of a concern.
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Last season Jones played in 11 games (eight starts) for San Francisco. He completed a career-best 69.6% of his passes and carried a 13/6 TD/INT ratio. That looks much more like the quarterback that was previously promising for the New England Patriots, and Kevin O'Connell needs that guy if this would work.
Minnesota Vikings picks hold different meaning now
Gone is Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the dumpster fire of draft history that went along with him. Kevin O'Connell, Brian Flores, and Rob Brzezinski are now likely the loudest voices in the room. Minnesota needs to get younger, and have impact value join through the draft.
Although just the second round pick in this proposed trade would be from the upcoming draft, that's a premium selection. Minnesota has eight overall selections , but five of them are in the fifth round or later. Giving up a second round pick would leave the Vikings in a tough spot.
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Rather than swing a trade involving significant draft capital for a largely unproven commodity, they may be better off exploring the open market. Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rodgers may both fit that bill. Kyler Murray could also represent a trade candidate with a higher ceiling.
How the Minnesota Vikings handle the next month should be more than fascinating to watch.
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