Insider links Vikings with QB prospect who isn't Drake Maye

It seems not everybody within the NFL community thinks the Minnesota Vikings will go all-in to move up in the draft to grab North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye. 

"This is one of the worst-kept secrets around the NFL right now," league insider Connor Hughes of SNY explained while predicting on Monday that the Vikings will trade with the Arizona Cardinals to move up from the 11th pick to choice No. 4 to land Michigan signal-caller J.J. McCarthy. "The Vikings, sources said, are hellbent in getting a quarterback for receiver Justin Jefferson and head coach Kevin O’Connell. They’re quite high on McCarthy, and believe he’ll be a much better pro than college quarterback." 

By just about every account, the Chicago Bears have already decided that they're making USC star Caleb Williams the draft's first pick on Thursday night. It was reported as recently as Monday that the Washington Commanders will likely take LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels at pick No. 2 and that Daniels "is ready to accept" attempting to become the face of that franchise. 

Choosing Maye at No. 3 may or may not be the Vikings' preference if they allegedly are absolutely in love with him, but the New England Patriots reportedly want an unprecedented deal to move off of the third choice. Assuming New England stays at No. 3 and takes Maye, Minnesota could leapfrog the New York Giants (sixth pick) in the draft order for McCarthy.

"His football acumen meshes perfectly with O’Connell," Hughes said about McCarthy. "He’s essentially a more physically gifted Kirk Cousins." 

Some have suggested that the Vikings could include the previously mentioned Jefferson in a trade to move up to pick No. 3 with the receiver in the final year of his rookie contract. Others remain convinced that Minnesota will ultimately make Jefferson the NFL's highest-paid non-quarterback at some point this spring or summer after the club adds a rookie signal-caller to the roster. 

As of Monday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Vikings as the betting favorites at +140 odds to draft McCarthy. The Giants were second on that list at +275 odds, but Hughes believes Minnesota won't let McCarthy fall to the sixth pick on Thursday.