Could that change during training camp (which begins next week)? Yes, because if No. 10 overall pick J.J. McCarthy somehow clears all of the hurdles KOC has put between the rookie and playing time in 2024, then it would come down to who gives the Vikings a better chance to win.

In other words, J.J.’s future playing time depends on his own development, and how quickly he can go through the stages that KOC has set up for him. Then, it’d be J.J. vs Sam. From there, may the best QB win. According to Kevin Seifert (ESPN), though, it doesn’t sound like Darnold or McCarthy were Minnesota’s first choice at QB. Neither was Kirk Cousins.

Minnesota Vikings QB Plan A was… Justin Herbert?

Seifert is reporting that, even prior to sitting down at the negotiating table with Cousins, Kwesi & Co had approached Jim Harbaugh and the new Los Angeles Chargers regime, during the NFL Scouting Combine (late February), to see if they’d be willing to part with 26-year-old quarterback, Justin Herbert.

The Vikings were already considering their next steps. At the combine, they checked with the Chargers on Herbert’s availability. It was the kind of call many NFL teams make to a team that has changed leadership. Adofo-Mensah had worked with new Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh when they were both with the 49ers from 2013 to ’14, and was well aware of Harbaugh’s preference for a run-based offensive scheme. The Chargers did not want to move Herbert, but the Vikings’ interest was a sign for league observers about Cousins’ looming availability.

Kevin Seifert – ESPN

While Kwesi tapping on his old pal Jim Harbaugh didn’t pay off, I have to commend our general manager for identifying a possible opportunity, and trying to pounce. Nabbing Herbert, if the run-heavy Harbaugh decided to hit the reset button, would have completely changed the trajectory of this Minnesota Vikings organization.

Kevin O’Connell turns gaze back to Kirk Cousins + NFL Draft

All QB questions would be out the window. No more, ‘can JJ play at this level?’ or ‘is there a good QB inside of Sam Darnold?’. Then, after LAC rebuffed Minnesota’s inquiries on Herbert, Kevin O’Connell was forced to have a difficult ‘half-in, half-out’ conversation with Kirk Cousins, regarding the Vikings’ long-term replacement plan for him.

Related: Adam Thielen and the Minnesota Vikings Interested in a Reunion?

The message: we need you to hold down the fort until our new franchise QB, whoever that is, shows he is ready to take your job. Kwesi and KOC were ready to guarantee Cousins the starting job for the 2024 season, and nothing beyond that.

O’Connell leveled with Cousins after the season: The Vikings’ 3-6 record after his injury had exposed the dangers of not looking beyond a 36-year-old quarterback. With their best draft position (No. 11 overall) in a decade, the team had decided to tap into a deep 2024 quarterback class and find its next starter. But no one — not ownership, not Adofo-Mensah and not O’Connell — wanted the rookie to play right away. Cousins would be their starter in 2024 and possibly longer.

Kevin Seifert – ESPN

Related: Cam Akers Didn’t Re-sign with the Vikings After All

Of course, Kirk Cousins wound up with the Atlanta Falcons. But we knew how that Kirk + KOC meeting went, long before free agency opened. Shortly after speaking with Cousins, KOC did his infamous 2024 NFL Combine interview, where a somber, sad-toned Vikings head coach pretty much told the world that he was about to lose his QB1.

"I know Kirk is going to go through a full process. He's a process guy. And hopefully we continue to be a strong part in that process and we figure out a way to keep him a Minnesota Viking." – Head Coach Kevin O'Connell on @KirkCousins8

📺: @NFLNetwork Saturday + Sunday pic.twitter.com/kBUaxN7MPM

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) March 2, 2024

But had KOC gotten it his way, Burger King style, it would have been Justin Herbert pulling up at TCO Performance Center this weekend, not McCarthy, Darnold or Cousins.

Then, instead of trading back and collecting 2nd day draft capital (of which they currently have none), general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah traded up again, this time from No. 23 to No. 17. The target: Alabama EDGE Dallas Turner, a guy many believe was the best defensive player in this draft.

Minnesota Vikings reportedly approached Chargers about Justin Herbert trade

But in a perfect world, the Vikings night might have gone differently. According to multiple reports, they made a strong effort to trade up to No. 3 so they could draft Drake Maye. Not only that, though.

About 45 minutes after the 2024 NFL Draft got rolling, Adam Schefter (ESPN) reported that the Vikings reached out to the Los Angeles Chargers, not just to talk about a trade up to No. 5, but also regarding the availability of their quarterback Justin Herbert. They reportedly got “a flat no” from the LA GM, who ended up sticking and picking at No. 5, too.

In recent weeks, both the Patriots and Vikings reached out to the Chargers to see if they had any interest in trading QB Justin Herbert, per league sources. The answer was, very quickly, “a flat no.”

Not only do the Chargers love Herbert, but they also would have had to take on… pic.twitter.com/4ZqBFOfQzd

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 26, 2024

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah laughs off Justin Herbert trade rumors

After the Vikings snagged Turner, GM Kwesi Adofo Mensah stepped up to the mic for his post draft press conference, to meet with media and talk about what just unfolded.

After hitting on both players and a few other things that unfolded during the heat of action, Kwesi was asked about Schefter’s report that they had contacted the Chargers about Herbert’s availability. His reaction was one of confoundment.

After collecting himself, Kwesi admitted he has no idea where some of this stuff comes from, but that it isn’t from anyone inside the Vikings organization. He doesn’t seem to mind the rumors that are floated and even believes those rumors help them out, at times. Technically, he never said no…

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah regarding Vikings' interest in trading for Justin Herbert: “I wish I could tell you how much joy we get from seeing the stuff that gets written…" (cont.)

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) April 26, 2024

“I wish I could tell you how much joy we get from seeing the stuff that gets written. … Those aren’t things that come out of this building,” Adofo-Mensah said Thursday. “I don’t know what to tell you. I don’t know where this stuff comes from. Sometimes it works out in our favor. I can’t even respond.”

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah when asked if he contacted the Chargers about Justin Herbert

It’s fun to get a peak behind the curtain. But, with the Vikings having snagged JJ McCarthy as their quarterback, conjecture surrounding the QB position is a thing of the past… at least for now.

Late Saturday night, LA Chargers rookie Quarterback, Justin Herbert, destroyed Minnesota Vikings wide receiver, Justin Jefferson, in Offensive NFL Rookie of the Year Award voting.

The final tally was 41-9 in favor of Herbert, proving once again that the “NFL Rookie of the Year” award is really just the “NFL Rookie Quarterback of the Year” award.

Offensive Rookie of the Year voting:

Justin Hebrert: 41
Justin Jefferson: 9

— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) February 7, 2021

Jefferson put together a historic rookie campaign, turning himself into a top-5 wide receiver during his first year in the NFL. If his 88 receptions, 1400 yards, 7 TD’s and 15.9 YPR can ‘t get JJ that ROY trophy then you have to wonder what has to be done for a non-quarterback to lift it.

Herbert had an impressive season too, but at the end of the day, Jefferson was better at wide receiver than Herbert was at quarterback.

Justin Herbert was roughly the 15th-best quarterback in the NFL this year. Justin Jefferson was a top-5 wide receiver.

Herbert broke records set two years ago. Jefferson broke records set 20 years ago.

Jefferson not winning OROY after the season he had is absurd.

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) February 7, 2021

If nothing else, this will hopefully lead to a more motivated Justin Jefferson in year two of his career. If his twitter last night was any indication… then 2021 should be fun.

????????see ya next season

— JJETS✈️ (@JJettas2) February 7, 2021

Cooper Carlson | Minnesota Sports Fan