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OTAs began in the NFL this week and former Michigan football star QB J.J. McCarthy is on his journey becoming a starting signal caller in the league. The Minnesota Vikings' X Account shared a highlight reel of McCarthy performing in practice, and it appears he has already formed a bond with his pass catchers.
Since McCarthy sat his entire rookie season due to a meniscus injury suffered last preseason, fans are excited to see what the Vikings have for the future. Speculation has been mixed on what kind of production the former national champion might have in his first season leading the Vikings. Out of the 32 starting QBs in the NFL, Pro Football Focus' John Kosko ranked McCarthy as the 21st-best QB entering the 2025 season.
I’m leaning on my personal evaluation here, as I had McCarthy as the top quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft," Kosko wrote. " We didn’t get to see him as a rookie, but his 2023 season at Michigan — where he earned a 92.2 PFF grade and a 93.4 passing grade — highlighted everything you want in a young passer. If he’s fully healthy in 2025, and considering what Sam Darnold managed in this offense, McCarthy is set up to succeed."
Kosko had McCarthy ranked above QBs like Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., Caleb Williams, and former Vikings' starter Sam Darnold, among others. Minnesota has plenty of weapons surrounding McCarthy -- along with a revamped offensive line. The former Wolverine has won wherever he's been, and Viking fans should expect the same in Minnesota.
More must-reads:
- Dolphins quickly become NFL's most hopeless situation
- Fantasy football Week 9: Five players who could flop
- The 'NFL passer rating leaders' quiz
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Dolphins quickly become NFL's most hopeless situation
There are a lot of teams in the NFL that are already out of the playoff race this season and facing long roads back to contention. There might not be a single franchise that is facing a grimmer, bleaker situation than the Miami Dolphins. The franchise has not won a playoff game in 26 years, the longest ongoing drought in the NFL, and it is going to continue this season. They have mostly been mediocre in recent years only qualified for the playoffs just four times in the past 23 years. They have had no recent success, are having no current success, and do not seem likely to have success anytime soon in the future. Whatever momentum and shine they may have had from last week's big win over the Atlanta Falcons was completely erased on Thursday night in an embarrassing performance against the Baltimore Ravens in a 28-6 defeat. There were zero positives to take away from it, and it is hard to see where a quick fix comes from. The Ravens beat the Dolphins, and the Dolphins beat themselves Coming out of halftime on Thursday night, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said they were playing against two teams in the first half, referencing the fact they had several self-inflicted mistakes that helped cost them points, stall drives and give points to Baltimore. They had long drives on offense get bogged down by penalties, forcing them to settle for field goal attempts. They fumbled deep in their own territory to set the Ravens up for their first touchdown of the game, and then turned the ball over two other times later in the game. That is a losing recipe against almost any team in football, and especially against a team that is quarterbacked by Lamar Jackson. But that's only part of the problem for Miami, and it's largely only related to this game. The big picture problem is far more concerning. Tua Tagovailoa is not the answer Tagovailoa is far from the only problem in Miami right now. It's just not a good roster overall. But he also does not seem to be part of the solution, especially with a $53M salary cap number. The Dolphins are paying him like one of the NFL's elite quarterbacks — and one of its elite players — and they are not getting anything close to that level of play. He threw his league-leading 11th interception of the season on Thursday, and just looked like a quarterback that had no answers for anything. He lacks elite arm strength, and everything regarding the Dolphins offense is built around timing, their ability for the first read of their offense to get open, and his ability to hit it. When things do not work perfectly, the offense has zero chance to function. It has not worked. Tagovailoa's regression as a quarterback, combined with a gigantic contract that might quickly becoming one of the NFL's biggest albatross deals, is a big reason why this situation feels so grim. It is one thing to not have a quarterback. It is another thing entirely to invest in the wrong quarterback and be stuck with them and have almost no way out from it. Eventually head coach Mike McDaniel and probably general manager Chris Grier are going to be dismissed, and it will not be unfair given the roster and team they have built. Whoever comes in to replace them is going to have a mostly bare cupboard to restock with one of the NFL's worst contracts at its most important position. At least if you are the New York Jets or New Orleans Saints you can start over this offseason with a new quarterback. It seems almost impossible for the Dolphins to do that.
Logical trade targets if the Vikings decide to buy before the trade deadline
While a loss Sunday in Detroit could turn Minnesota into a seller before Tuesday's NFL trade deadline, a win would get them to 4-4 and perhaps entice them to be a buyer. If they do wind up acquiring help before the trade deadline, who are some logical targets? For that, we need to look at the teams most likely to be selling and find out which players at positions of need — cornerback and perhaps edge rusher — Minnesota could target. We also need to keep in mind that draft capital is a premium. Here's what the Vikings have in the 2026 draft cupboard: 1st round 2nd round 3rd round 5th fround (from Philadelphia via the Sam Howell trade) 6th round (from Indianapolis via the Mekhi Blackmon trade) 7th round 7th round (from Houston via the 2024 Cam Akers trade) 7th round (from Carolina via the Adam Thielen trade) What are the Vikings most likely to do before the deadline? It doesn't sound like much. Alec Lewis, of The Athletic, says to "expect some tires to be kicked, but don’t bank on an addition or subtraction, barring a serious injury." NFL Network's Tom Pelissero doesn't "see them going out and making a massive type of acquisition," but he says he could "see them having interest" in the edge rusher market. SI's Albert Breer says the Vikings are "among a list of teams looking for corners." So, let's see what the likely sellers might have available at cornerback and edge. Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett (not logical) All signs point to the Browns keeping Garrett, so this is probably a waste of time to even consider. If they did open the door for a trade, it would cost an ungodly amount, including multiple first-round picks and perhaps some talented players. Cleveland hasn't had any cornerbacks mentioned in the rumor mills. Las Vegas Raiders: Eric Stokes Stokes would be a massive upgrade at cornerback for the Vikings, who lack depth behind Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers. Stokes shouldn't cost a ton because he's on a one-year, $3.5 million contract. There's no guarantee that he re-signs with the Raiders, so Vegas might be smart to trade him now, rather than losing him for nothing in free agency. Stokes ranked No. 38 in PFF coverage grades for cornerbacks, having allowed 10 receptions on 19 targets for 123 yards. Quarterbacks have a 72.9 passer rating when throwing into Stokes' coverage, which puts him among the top 30 in the NFL this season. Maimi Dolphins: Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips, Matthew Judon Chubb, Phillips and Judon would could be upgrades over Dallas Turner on the edge. But does Minnesota really want to trade for an edge rusher when Andrew Van Ginkel is about to return to the lineup? It's only a need if Van Ginkel is expected to miss more time. Phillips: 3 sacks, 32 pressures, PFF's 15th-ranked pass rusher at EDGE Chubb: 3 sacks, 21 pressures, PFF's 101st-ranked pass rusher at EDGE Judon: 0 sacks, 5 pressures, PFF's 116th-ranked pass rusher at EDGE Breer is hearing that it could take a third-round pick to get Phillips. New Orleans Saints: Alontae Taylor Taylor would be an upgrade in the cornerback room, but Breer says the Saints are asking for a second or third-round pick for him. The 2022 second-round pick is due to become a free agent, so it would only make sense for Minnesota to give up a quality draft pick for him if they can sign him to an extension. According to PFF, Taylor has the 31st-best coverage grade among cornerbacks, putting him just ahead of Jets star Sauce Gardner. New York Giants: Kayvon Thibodeaux Mike Garafolo reported this week that the Giants are telling interested teams no, but Thibodeaux appears to be the odd man out in New York with Brian Burns and Abdul Carter starting on the edges. He's under contract through 2026, so it might take a Day 2 pick to get him. Should the Vikings offer a third-rounder next year to shore up the edge? Thibodeaux has 2.5 sacks and 25 pressures this season, while ranking 49th among edge rushers via PFF's grades. He had just 5.5 sacks last year, but he posted an 11.5-sack season in 2023, which is what the Giants thought they were getting when they drafted him fifth overall in 2022. Washington Commanders: Noah Igbinoghene Igbinoghene might be the player that makes the most sense for Minnesota because he'd only cost them a late-round draft pick. He's a player who was on the field for 75% of Washington's snaps last season, but roster changes have led to him spending most of this season on the bench, having played a total of 40 defense snaps in 2025. The issue here is that he's best-suited for the slot, and the Vikings need someone who can fill the void of Jeff Okudah (concussions) on the outside. More from Vikings On SI
Three teams that should pursue a trade for Titans WR Calvin Ridley
As the Tennessee Titans are free falling towards another season as one of the NFL's worst teams, they will likely sell off some of their higher priced players before the NFL's Nov. 4 trade deadline. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley tops the list of available players on the trade block even as he deals with a hamstring injury. Ridley's big play ability makes him an attractive option for teams looking to add another wide receiver. Even though he's been experiencing an up and down season so far - Ridley has only 16 receptions for 290 yards, he surpassed 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons following sitting out 2022 due to being suspended for betting. So assuming Ridley is healthy enough to remain a trade target, here are the teams that should take a chance on the controversial wide out. Pittsburgh Steelers Aaron Rodgers may have stabilized the Steelers' quarterback position, but that doesn't mean the offense is as consistent as it needs to be for Pittsburgh to truly contend in the AFC. Pittsburgh has only exceeded 30 points twice through seven games. Desperate to increase their offensive output, especially with the defense struggling, the Steelers could use more receiver depth behind DK Metcalf. Acquiring Ridley would provide Rodgers another weapon and make the decision to place double coverage on Metcalf more of a risk for opponents. If Ridley can get back to form, he would unlock an extra dimension for a Steelers team that still holds a comfortable lead in the AFC North. New England Patriots One of the surprising results of the season so far, the Patriots are 6-2 and in first place in the AFC East. But if New England truly hopes to make a playoff push, second-year quarterback Drake Maye may need more at his disposal. To this point, Maye has been forced to work without a true deep threat. And while he's been able to methodically move the ball, Ridley would make his life much easier and stretch the field even more. Seattle Seahawks Another first place team who could use another playmaker, the Seattle Seahawks' offense has started to show signs of weakness in recent weeks. Much like the Steelers, the Seahawks have a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for October. He's been brilliant with three-straight 100 plus-yard games. However, Seattle has only scored 30 points once in its last four games. Pairing Smith-Njigba with Ridley would make the Seahawks more potent as they approach a stretch of the schedule with pivotal divisional matchups coming up.
Packers’ Tucker Kraft mulling Aaron Rodgers-sized Green Bay move
Packers tight end Tucker Kraft is becoming a legend in Green Bay. Kraft was the driving force behind the Packers’ 35-25 win over the Steelers, logging 131 of his 143 receiving yards After The Catch, on his way to a two-touchdown breakout performance. But, as the third-year emerging star continues his breakout campaign, Kraft appears set to lay down some serious roots in Green Bay. Packers’ Tucker Kraft contemplating buying Aaron Rodgers’ house After leading the charge to throttle Rodgers in Week 8, Kraft is contemplating an even bigger move. Buying Rodgers’ former Green Bay home. Kraft is likely viewed by the Packers’ organization as an offensive centerpiece, and could quickly sign a long-term extension when he is eligible, but the 24-year-old emerging star buying the former home of one of the franchise’s legends would be the type of decision that solidifies his place in franchise lore. EssentiallySports points out that the house has some incredible features, making it pretty unsurprising that Parsons and Kraft have already gotten into a bit of a metaphorical bidding war over the home: The property has a dedicated arcade room, an office/library, a poker room, a billiards room, and a brick theatre. Of course, the place also has a bar and a gourmet kitchen! Alongside this, the luxurious place offers four bedrooms and seven bathrooms. There’s an indoor swimming pool to beat the heat and a hot tub when you just want to relax, as well as a sports facility to test your physical prowess. Through his first 41 games, Kraft has caught 111 passes for 1,531 yards with 15 touchdowns, but as he continues to build on his already strong chemistry with quarterback Jordan Love, his role and production could each be on the cusp of exploding. Wherever Kraft winds up living, Green Bay could soon be home for the emerging star for years to come.
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