Should the Vikings trade for Mac Jones?
What looked like a promising season for the Minnesota Vikings took a wrong turn when their rookie quarterback JJ. McCarthy, who was drafted 10th in April, will miss the entire upcoming season after tearing his meniscus against the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday. The injury will require surgery, and he is expected to be out for about four to six months.
With McCarthy out, perennial backup Sam Darnold will take over the helm for the Vikings, drastically lowering their ceiling for the season. However, there might be a way to salvage what is left of the season to prevent it from being a total disaster.
The Vikings can trade for former New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones. Jones, who won just two games for New England last season, was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars in March to be a backup to Trevor Lawrence.
He might be the perfect fit for this Vikings team, whose veteran QB Kirk Cousins left as a free agent to the Atlanta Falcons during the offseason. Jones, a first-round pick and the anointed successor to Tom Brady with the Patriots, failed to live up to expectations.
However, what makes this a better option compared to Darnold is that we know both their ceilings, and Jones has led a franchise to the playoffs in his rookie season in 2021. What he lacked in talent in the Patriots' locker room would more than be compensated for with the Vikings, where he would be throwing the ball to arguably the most talented wide receiver in the game, Justin Jefferson.
Jefferson just got a new contract that made him the highest-paid non-QB in the league and will be looking to showcase why he deserves the money being spent on him.
A glimpse of hope might come with the addition of Mac Jones, who might ensure that the season is not a total disaster after showing positive signs in his preseason outing against the Kansas City Chiefs, throwing a 22-yard, pinpoint pass to wide receiver Austin Trammell.
Mac Jones vs. Sam Darnold’s career stats
Mac Jones is a first-round draft pick with career NFL stats of 49 touchdowns, 38 interceptions, 9,150 passing yards and 345 rushing yards, with an average quarterback rating of 85.8 in 43 appearances over three years.
He has an argument over Sam Darnold's career stats of 63 touchdowns, 56 interceptions, 12,064 passing yards and 760 rushing yards, with an average quarterback rating of 78.3 in 66 appearances over six years.
It is clear that although both are below-average quarterbacks. However, Mac Jones has a higher ceiling than Darnold, averaging a better touchdown-to-interception ratio and a better overall QB rating. With an opportunity to prove himself one more time, the Vikings might strike gold if they initiate this trade.