The Minnesota Vikings are doing everything in their power to set JJ McCarthy up for success in his first year as the starting quarterback.
After "red-shirting" his rookie year, the former Michigan star has one of the best support systems around him. Kevin O'Connell and Josh McCown are revered offensive minds, and they have one of the best wide recievers in the NFL for him to throw to in Justin Jefferson.
However, its been tough for McCarthy to create chemistry due to lack of practice reps with his weapons. Jefferson has been sideline for most of training camp and preseason with a hamstring injury, and his WR2 Jordan Addison will miss the first three games of the season due to a suspension. The Vikings have reportedly been scouring the trade market for another pass catcher, seemingly failing to reaquire their former franchise hero Adam Thielen. But there may be some other names available who could be easier to acquire.
Vikings Trade Idea Lands Jakobi Meyers from Raiders
The latest player to request a trade due to a contract dispute is Las Vegas Raiders wide reciever Jakobi Meyers. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapaport, Meyers wants a new deal as he enters the final year of his current pact, and the Raiders seem unwilling to give it to him. The Vikings were named by Bleacher Report to be a team that could look to acquire the disgruntled reciever.
"First-year starter J.J. McCarthy will need as much ammo as possible beyond star Justin Jefferson." Wrote BR's Brad Gagnon. "Jordan Addison is facing a three-game suspension, Rondale Moore has been lost for the season due to a knee injury, and Jalen Nailor's been plagued by a hand injury."
According to Gagnon, Minnesota would only have to give up a 2026 fourth-round pick for Meyer's services, and considering how productive the NC State product has been with an abyssmal supporting cast in Vegas, that seems like a steal.
With a revolving door at quarterback over the last two seasons, Meyers has managed to rack up 1,834 yards recieving and 12 touchdowns.
With a receiving room of Jefferson, Addison and Meyers, you would be hard pressed to find a better trio of recievers in the NFL. It would almost be a guarentee that someone is going to get open when McCarthy drops back to pass throughout his first season as QB1 for the Vikings.