Potential NFL Draft targets for the Vikings include J.J. McCarthy and Drake Maye.

If McCarthy were to get the nod over Maye, it could prove to be advantageous for the Vikings.

It has been assumed for months now that the next two players taken in the top three of this year’s NFL draft, after Caleb Williams, will be Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye, in whatever order. However, what if that’s not true?

Pre-draft season is usually hard to predict, but it’s at least important to note that there has been a lot of talk about how high the league is on J.J. McCarthy. Even though he is typically ranked as the QB4, it would not be surprising to see the national champion and Michigan product move up to the top three, surpassing Daniels and Maye. McCarthy is +250 to be the third overall choice, according BetOnline.

Daniels was more likely to tumble than Maye, if either was going to. Daniels is still expected to go number two overall, but some observers think Maye’s inconsistent play could cause teams to reconsider. According to two recent mock drafts from Pete Prisco and Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports, the Patriots will select McCarthy at pick three, while the Vikings will trade up to select Maye at pick five.

Prisco: “Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy will face off in this place, and I believe McCarthy will win. I think that’s much too high for him, but he’s reportedly very liked by the Pats.”

Trapasso said: “At this point we shouldn’t be shocked if J.J. McCarthy goes ahead of Drake Maye.”

In a few weeks, the Vikings—who are supposedly huge Maye fans—would probably be overjoyed if Williams, Daniels, McCarthy, and Marvin Harrison Jr. wind up in the top four. In order to move up to five and acquire their guy, they would then have the chance to call the Chargers and make an offer that would include picks 11 and 23, along with a future middle-round pick as a sweetener.

It seems like Maye would be a wonderful fit in Minnesota. Though he would be joining a coaching staff that includes Wes Phillips, Josh McCown, and Kevin O’Connell—who famously coached him in high school—he still has a lot to improve on. He might spend part or all of his first campaign learning from and developing behind Sam Darnold. And behind an offensive line that had two standout tackles, he would be passing to T.J. Hockenson, Jordan Addison, and Justin Jefferson after he assumed the starting job. Maye has the most upside of any quarterback in this class because of his size, athleticism, and arm skill.

It does appear possible that McCarthy could be removed before Maye, though I’m still not sure it will happen.

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