WentzerWuver wrote:righterwriter wrote:McCarthy seems to be the guy that every team wants another team to draft in the top-5. I believe there has been lots of positioning through the media in order to boost his value and get a team to trade up for him, then they can draft the guy they really want.
I think the NFL is convinced that ARI will not let MHJ slide by at #4. And they know that the Chargers are open season at #5 if a team wants to trade up and grab a QB there. With all that in mind, I think NE would love to trade the #3 to a team that wants McCarthy (the Vikings being the obvious choice). And then trade part of that package to get back to #5 and take Daniels.
If NE can get #11, #23, #108, and a future 1st and a future 2nd from Minnesota for #3. Then trade #11, #23, and the future 2nd to get back up to 5 to take Daniels, they get the QB they want and a couple valuable picks. The Chargers benefit by picking up #23 and a future 2nd to drop back six spots (where they'll take the RT they want to protect Herbert and open up the ground game).
Interesting perspective, but why are the Vikings the OBVIOUS choice for JJ?!? The only reason they signed Sam D is due to his cannon arm to get the ball to their deep threats like Jefferson and Addison. Only problem with that is he tends to pass to ghost more than to his teammates. Maye resembles Darnold more than those other QB with a huge cannon arm. I still think his floor is low and needs work as far as transitioning to the NFL but his ceiling is higher than any other QB in this class meaning he could be the next Josh Allen. Vikings are not a running team which JJ specialized in at Michigan.
https://vikingswire.usatoday.com/2024/03/29/vikings-trade-up-yet-again-franchise-quarterback-drake-maye/Here's a possibility that i think could happen which is NOT in any mock draft. Harbaugh drafts JJ at 5 cause of his complete understanding on how to implement Harbaugh's offensive schemes that won them the NCAAF CFP. He wants to bring the Michigan Way to the NFL and wants Michigan men like himself to make it happen. Besides JJ, Harbaugh will nab Corum and Roman later in the draft.
https://youtube.com/shorts/MkkKU4AGluM?si=oS9iCCLlNLxWylyuhttps://youtube.com/shorts/sGy0SfosaQU?si=VTBNgX5WtbQoQg2bNow imagine how much Harbaugh can get by trading Herbert who is an underachiever imo and needs a change in scenery along with Keenan, Ekeler and Williams. Herbert is still consider an elite QB in his prime so we are talking about 2 first round picks and a 3rd at a minimum with a bunch of suiters lining up begging to land him while clearing the Chargers of his huge contract as well.
Don't say it can't happen
I do like your take on NE trading down to accumulate picks and then trade back up like Miami did with the 49ers and the Eagles for Waddle. Agree NE will trade down but will have no intentions of drafting a franchise QB other than picking up a backup low in the draft and will ride with Jacoby as their starter after trading for him. Why? As a 1st year HC at any level, he doesn't need the added pressure of starting or having a franchise QB on his roster and will be better off drafting their franchise in the 2025 class. It's all about accumulating future picks now to rebuild their roster over any one player which is the Patriots Way.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/patriots-hc-jerod-mayo-reveals-true-feelings-on-bringing-back-qb-jacoby-brissett/ar-BB1ksiElMy prediction on where the top QB will end up.
Caleb to Bears
Daniels to DC
Maye to Vikings
JJ to Chargers
Penix Jr to Seahawks
Bo to Broncos
Milton to Raiders
I like a lot of what you are thinking here. Harbaugh getting back his college QB, an Alex Smith type who manages the game and is a good leader for what is mostly a running offense.
I just don't see the Chargers trading Herbert now. If they'd wanted to deal him, they likely would have been able to trade him to the Bears for the #1, #9, and likely more picks and players. The fact that there are no Herbert trade rumors is enough to say that there likely hasn't been any discussion of it.
I think Minnesota is the team that trades up. Although you can't count out the Giants, too. Neither team plans to be this low again in the draft (no team does, but you can see these teams are stocking up for a playoff run after a down season), so they might want to grab a "surefire" QB while they have the chance. This is especially true for Minnesota which has no starting option at QB right now.
To be honest, I don't see it with McCarthy, but teams get QB crazy at the top of the draft. I think the guy who teams want is Drake Maye as a protoype QB with size and a great arm, with Daniels being a higher risk/higher reward guy they'd be okay with. McCarthy just feels like the guy they want another team to take. He seems like a mid-1st round QB prospect, but he gets a bump because of so many teams that need a QB.