The Minnesota Vikings have a new general manager after firing Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, and now Rob Brzezinski has been busy trying to identify the team’s next franchise quarterback, among other things. Of course, the Vikings have other areas to address too, such as being roughly $40 million over the salary cap.
Yet, the Vikings could have avoided their quest for a new QB, if they had just listened to their head coach, Kevin O’Connell, during the 2024 NFL Draft. Then again, it may have never mattered.
According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the Vikings “tried with all their might” to trade up to the third overall pick to make Drake Maye their selection. Once talks broke down, coach O’Connell urged the Vikings’ front office to make a stronger offer. Alas, the New England Patriots weren’t interested in trading the pick, no matter what the offer was.
“Then, there’s the one caveat to all of this, which is that the Vikings tried with all their might to trade up for Drake Maye in 2024. O’Connell loved him. Maye was coached in high school by Vikings assistant Josh McCown and was a teammate of McCown’s son. Minnesota offered both of its first-round picks in 2024 (Nos. 11 and 23) and its 2025 first-rounder to the Patriots, with later-round pick swaps favoring Minnesota to move up to the third pick. O’Connell pushed them to go further. It wouldn’t matter, because the Patriots weren’t moving, sitting there as convicted in Maye as Minnesota was in the former North Carolina quarterback.”
SI’s Albert Breer on Vikings/Drake Maye trade
Maye has since become a two-time Pro Bowler, leading the Patriots to the Super Bowl on the back of a 14-3 regular season record, likely finishing as the MVP runner-up. Meanwhile, the Vikings moved up one slot and later selected J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in the first round.
McCarthy has led the Vikings to a 6-4 record after missing his entire rookie season with a knee injury, which pales in comparison to the 17-12 record Maye has recorded. Now the Vikings hope their 23-year-old unlocks another level in his performance as he heads into season three. If not, other QB plans could be in the works.
Related: Minnesota Vikings Prepared to Make Blockbuster Trade for Superstar QB
