The Minnesota Vikings‘ quarterback room suffered a significant blow when first-round rookie J.J. McCarthy suffered a torn meniscus that will require surgery to repair.
McCarthy, who had been chosen by the Vikings with the No. 10 overall pick in this spring’s NFL Draft, had been battling veteran Sam Darnold for the starting job before getting injured.
However, losing McCarthy isn’t just a setback for the young quarterback’s development but could also create a serious depth concern behind Darnold given that Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall are the only other quarterbacks currently on the roster.
Could The Minnesota Vikings Trade for Taylor Heinicke?
If the Vikings are going to compete with the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North, it would be a wise decision to add a veteran quarterback into the mix to replace McCarthy.
Even if Darnold improves significantly during the preseason and inspires confidence he can lead the offense going into Week 1, having veteran competition and an experienced signal caller at the ready in case Darnold gets injured would be wise.
Through no real fault of his own, Taylor Heinicke has tumbled down the Falcons’ depth chart, after Atlanta signed Kirk Cousins to a mega-deal early in free agency and then chose former University of Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in the first round of this spring’s draft.
However, given that he’s passed for 6,635 yards with 39 touchdowns to 28 interceptions through the first six seasons of his career, Heinicke’s experience could prove valuable both in a pinch if he’s thrust into action this fall and as another leadership voice to help ease McCarthy’s transition into the NFL.
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