Vikings Rumor Mill Watch: J.J. McCarthy Trade Theory, DeAndre Hopkins, CB in the Draft

Rumor: J.J. McCarthy makes sense as a trade candidate for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Vikings have shown no interest in moving McCarthy, but NFL writer Sayre Bedinger mapped out potential landing spots this week, pointing to the Steelers, New York Jets, and Los Angeles Rams.

He noted about McCarthy to Pittsburgh, “The long-term outlook at the quarterback position for the Pittsburgh Steelers is extremely unclear. Aaron Rodgers is probably going to come back for the 2026 season, but after this year, who knows what the Steelers are going to do? They’ll be at the mercy of wherever they fall in the draft, or stuck in the purgatory that is cycling through veteran retreads.”

“There is no long-term vision right now, which is why taking a shot on McCarthy’s upside and getting him in the building with Mike McCarthy could make a lot of sense. He’d be able to spend a year learning from Aaron Rodgers, getting acclimated to the offense, and really giving the Steelers a reason to not be desperate in next year’s draft. It also keeps them flexible there.”

If McCarthy requested a trade, the Steelers might make sense as a destination, but until then, it’s reasonable to expect that McCarthy will stay in Minnesota. He’s only 23 and has time to watch and learn.

Rumor: DeAndre Hopkins, indeed, will be a free-agent option for the Vikings after the draft.

Star *Tribune’*s Ben Goessling re-floated Hopkins as a post-draft wide receiver solution for the Vikings, and the idea still has some traction.

He joined Paul Allen’s show on KFAN this week, and Allen inquired: “So the Jalen Nailor spot, do the Vikings want a veteran wide receiver … or do you think O’Connell and the gang are sitting on something sneaky they love in the draft?”

Goessling replied, “I’m going to answer that yes — to both. I think, if they could find a veteran — I mean, DeAndre Hopkins’ name has come up. If you could get a guy in here like a Hopkins, that has rapport with Kyler Murray — it depends on what he wants to play for, it depends on what he wants his role to be.”

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins lines up during Super Bowl LIX action at the Caesars Superdome, preparing for a snap against the Philadelphia Eagles, with the moment captured on Feb 9, 2025 in New Orleans. The veteran receiver brings experience and red-zone prowess to the championship stage under bright lights. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.

If Hopkins signs a cheap contract, which seems likely, the move offers considerable upside. The Vikings need a reliable WR3, a role Hopkins suits well, and training camp would determine the receiving corps’ hierarchy, with a younger player potentially surpassing him.

Hopkins’ established redzone prowess tends to endure, and even in a limited role, he would provide a dependable scoring threat. A deal in the $2–3 million range would represent a sensible investment for this potential payoff.

Rumor: A Round 1 cornerback probably isn’t a priority for Minnesota.

Not so fast on the idea of the Vikings picking a Round 1 cornerback next week.

Analyzing the draft, The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis weighed in this week, “Coaching input will be weighed heavily. And unlike previous seasons, the Vikings have a bevy of picks in the top 100. The team’s leadership knows it needs to find hits.”

“The Vikings haven’t used a first- or second-round pick on a cornerback since Brian Flores arrived, and I don’t expect them to start now, especially after signing free agent James Pierre.”

Before Lewis’s assertion, cornerback tracked as a draft need — and it likely still holds that label. It’s just that Flores doesn’t seem to need cornerbacks for his defense to cook.

Virginia Tech wide receiver Donavon Greene reaches back for a one-handed grab attempt as South Carolina defensive back Brandon Cisse closes in during second-half action at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with the play unfolding on Aug 31, 2025 in Atlanta. The contested moment highlights athleticism and tight coverage in a physical early-season matchup. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images.

Lewis’s opinion has credence when viewed in the context of recent Vikings draft history. In 2023, rather than selecting a cornerback in the 1st Round, they chose Jordan Addison. They repeated this pattern in 2024, opting for J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner, and again in 2025 when they drafted Donovan Jackson.

Despite cornerback consistently being a position of need during each of those draft cycles, Minnesota waited until after the 1st Round to address it — or just ignored the position altogether.

It wouldn’t be shocking if the Vikings were content with Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, and the aforementioned Pierre. Perhaps Minnesota will find a cornerback in the middle or late rounds of the draft and call it good.