Entering the 2025 NFL season, all Minnesota Vikings fans have the same question. Will J.J. McCarthy be able to live up to the hype and expectation of being the team’s new starting quarterback and become the team’s long-term franchise signal caller?
That is a question that is important to answer both now and for the future.
McCarthy has the talent and potential to be a special NFL quarterback. However, he missed his entire rookie season due to a knee injury. Asking him to step in and keep a team on track that went 14-3 just one year ago is a difficult request.
Despite the pressure that the former Michigan standout is facing, McCarthy has remained confident. The Vikings also seem to be very confident in his ability.
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Even though there is clear confidence in the young quarterback, could Minnesota consider making a move to bring in a better backup who could compete with and push McCarthy throughout the 2025 season?
One NFL analyst has suggested that the team do just that.
Alex Kay of Bleacher Report has suggested a potential trade for the Vikings. His trade idea would acquired Kenny Pickett from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick.
“The Vikings might prefer a backup with some experience to work behind J.J. McCarthy this season,” Kay wrote. “While Pickett has had his struggles since being drafted in the first round in 2022, he boasts a respectable 15-10 record as a starter and could provide Minnesota with a quality insurance option for an unproven young signal-caller.”
Minnesota would be wise to invest in its backup quarterback role. Sam Howell is an interesting option, but he has yet to prove that he is capable of being an NFL starter if called upon.
Pickett may not be a fully proven product, but he has more experience and he has a lot of talent and potential as well.
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Moving on from a sixth-round pick for an upgrade behind McCarthy would be a no-brainer move for the Vikings. Pickett would be able to help develop McCarthy, which would help the team long-term in and of itself.
While it’s just an idea for Minnesota to improve, it’s one that makes a lot of sense. Should the Browns make Pickett available for trade, it would not be shocking to see the Vikings end up being one of the teams with interest in acquiring him.
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