With Donovan McNabb now clearly on the trading block, a team that many would consider a good fit for his services is also a team that many wouldn’t think would be interested in trading for him.
That team in the Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings are on obvious fit for McNabb. He is familiar with Brad Childress’s offense and the Vikings have plenty of weapons to surround him with. The Vikings also have a strong defense that is Super Bowl ready.
The Vikings aren’t considered to be in the mix for McNabb because of Brett Favre. While Favre remains noncommittal at this point about whether or not he’ll play in 2010, many expect him to return.
So why should the Vikings still be interested in McNabb?
McNabb still has plenty of good football left in him, and would stabilize the Vikings quarterback position for 3-4 years. This would keep the window of opportunity open for the Vikings, and give them time to develop a quarterback under McNabb.
On the field, McNabb could be an upgrade over Favre. Favre can still play at a high level, but he inevitably reverts to his gunslinger mentality and throws the ball up for grabs, like he did in the NFC Championship game last season. One of McNabb’s greatest strengths is his that he is good at protecting the football.
Off the field, the Vikings would free themselves of Favre’s drama, and I don’t just mean whether or not he is retiring. Remember there were several times last season when Favre clashed with Childress. There were reports late in the season that the two were at odds with each other, with Favre checking out of Childress’s plays and into his own. Childress at one point tried to pull Favre out of a game, and Favre ignored him.
McNabb and Childress would be well matched personality-wise. Both are reserved, neither one is a strong leader, and neither one would buck the organizational party line. I don’t see McNabb changing the coach’s plays like Favre did.
Consider where the Viking would be if Favre doesn’t return: Tarvaris Jackson. To avoid that scenario alone should be worth a high draft pick. The Vikings are a solid team and they cannot afford to lose their window of opportunity due to quarterback issues.
Also consider that the Vikings don’t have many holes to be filled on either side of the ball, so it may be easier for them part with compensation that would satisfy the Eagles.
Published reports today said that there were teams talking to the Eagles who requested not to be named publicly because they have an incumbent starter. It would not surprise me if the Vikings turned out to be one of them.
