Kyler Murray…to the Minnesota Vikings?
In ESPN’s latest 2024 NFL mock draft, the Arizona Cardinals shockingly selected Michigan quarterback, JJ McCarthy with the fourth overall pick. While it certainly seemed (and still does) seem like a wild projection, it does make slightly more sense now as in the same mock, the club has traded signal caller, Kyler Murray, alongside pick #66 to the Minnesota Vikings for the 11th overall selection.
“I drafted J.J. McCarthy at No. 4 to take over under center for Arizona, so Murray becomes a trade candidate and Minnesota is still searching for QB answers after missing out on the top four passers in the class. I don’t love the scheme fit for Oregon’s Bo Nix in Minnesota, and it’s too early for Washington’s Michael Penix Jr.
So here’s my proposition to clear some cap space for the Cards, officially start the McCarthy era in Arizona and fix the Vikings’ QB issue. In my mind, the No. 11 pick for Murray straight up is too rich, and No. 23 — Minnesota’s other first-rounder — on its own is not enough. So I’m attaching that third-rounder to the No. 11 pick to level this out. It’s similar to what the Cardinals did during the 2022 draft, when they traded their first-round pick (No. 23) to Baltimore for receiver Marquise Brown and a third-rounder.
From the Vikings’ standpoint, everything I said earlier about Murray’s durability still matters, but he’s cheaper and younger than Kirk Cousins would have been to re-sign and gives them a chance to compete this season rather than rebuild.”
Minnesota Vikings’ Injury Riddled 2023 Season
Prior to rupturing his Achilles during the Minnesota Vikings’ week eight win over the Green Bay Packers, Kirk Cousins was quietly in the MVP conversation. Cousins threw for 2,331 yards to go along with 18 touchdowns and just five interceptions in less than eight full games.
Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons when the new NFL league year officially began, earlier this month. With plenty of offensive talent to work with in the form of Justin Jefferson, TJ Hockenson, Jordan Addison, and the newly-signed Aaron Jones, the Vikings could very well be a quarterback away from being in the mix in the NFC playoff picture.
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