Minnesota Vikings

With quarterback Kirk Cousins now with the Atlanta Falcons, Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell needs a new QB to utilize a talented group of receivers, and The Athletic's Bruce Feldman is hearing the Vikes are very interested in Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy, who went 27-1 as the Wolverines starter and led the team to the national title last year. Feldman is even suggesting the Vikings could trade all the way up to No. 4 overall with the Arizona Cardinals to take McCarthy in this year's NFL draft. The 21-year-old didn't put up the gaudy stats that the high-end names in this year's draft did, but he has honed pro-style footwork and threw 44 touchdowns to only nine picks in two seasons as the starter. McCarthy can also run, going for nine TDs and more than 500 yards on the ground. Landing in Minnesota would probably give him the most short- and long-term fantasy upside.

The Washington Commanders could be leaning toward selecting former Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, according to conversations NFL insider Tom Pelissero has had with executives around the league at the NFL's league meetings. North Carolina's Drake Maye and LSU's Jayden Daniels have seemingly been competing to be the next quarterback off the board after USC's Caleb Williams, but McCarthy has been getting more hype as the pre-draft process has gone on. All that said, there is no shortage of examples of quarterbacks being pushed up by the media, only to fall in the real NFL Draft. Last year, Will Levis was projected to be picked as high as No. 2 overall, and he ultimately fell to the Tennessee Titans at pick 33. McCarthy is seemingly a lock to be selected in the first round of next month's draft, but it would still be somewhat of a surprise if he overtakes both Maye and Daniels in draft position.

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that he's happy to have veteran quarterback Sam Darnold on the team this year. "I think his best football is ahead of him because of how he handled the last couple of years," O'Connell said. The Vikings head coach points out that he saw growth with Darnold's fundamentals as he worked as Brock Purdy's backup in San Francisco last year, and he's excited to get to work with him in Minnesota. The Vikings signed the former first-rounder to a one-year, $10 million deal this offseason, and depending on what the team does in the upcoming NFL draft, Darnold could open the year as the starter under center in Week 1. He'll have one of the best receivers in the game in Justin Jefferson to work with if he's starting, but Darnold will still be a midrange QB2, at best, in fantasy.

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll said there's no guarantee that quarterback Daniel Jones (knee) will be ready for Week 1, but Daboll said "when he gets back, he'll be the guy." The Giants are sticking with Jones as their starter, but he's coming off a torn right ACL in 2023 and might not be ready to go for the start of the 2024 season this fall. The 26-year-old had a career year in Daboll's first season as head coach in 2022, but Jones disappointed behind a terrible offensive line last year before blowing his knee out. Jones resumed throwing in early February and could take part in 7-on-7 drills this spring, but it appears now there's a chance that Drew Lock could be under center for the G-Men in Week 1. Jones is only one year into his four-year, $160 million extension and the Giants could be forced to move on if he doesn't improve in 2024.

Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy visited with the New York Giants last week, which included dinner with the front office and a tour of the team's facilities, according to sources. The Washington Commanders will fly out to Ann Arbor to have dinner with McCarthy on Thursday night, the night before his pro day workout, according to multiple sources. Although it would be a big surprise if the Commanders took McCarthy with the second overall pick in this year's NFL draft, they are doing their due diligence on him anyway. The Giants could be right in the wheelhouse at No. 6 overall to take McCarthy as the heir apparent for the struggling Daniel Jones, while the Minnesota Vikings (No. 11), Denver Broncos (No. 12) and Las Vegas Raiders (No. 13) are all candidates to trade into the top-10 picks to take McCarthy next month.