The J.J. McCarthy experiment has turned into a disaster for the Minnesota Vikings, putting them firmly in the mix for a new quarterback in the offseason.
They may luck their way into a generational talent, which is a potential nightmare scenario for the Green Bay Packers and the rest of the NFC North. The word may is important here, as many variables would need to fall perfectly into place, but All-Pro quarterback Joe Burrow ignited a storm of speculation following his noteworthy comments this week.
"If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it," Burrow told reporters. "I've been through a lot and if it's not fun, then what am I doing it for? So that's the mindset I'm trying to bring to the table."
That sounds like a quarterback ready for change. It's the Andrew Luck situation all over again. Luck shocked the world by retiring before age 30, having taken 174 sacks in 86 games and battled multiple injuries. Burrow has faced similar struggles to stay healthy, due in large part to taking 203 sacks in just 73 contests.
ESPN's Dan Orlovsky believes Burrow's time in Cincinnati won't last much longer, and he circled the Vikings as a landing spot if the Bengals considered trading him.
"It's the beginning of the end for Joe Burrow in Cincinnati. The organization has absolutely failed him," Orlovsky said. "If I'm the Jets, if I'm the Raiders, if I'm the Vikings, if I'm the Steelers, I am figuring out a way, coming off of what happened just yesterday, getting together and saying, 'How do we get Joe Burrow? How do we start the process of making Joe Burrow our quarterback?'"
Joe Burrow to Vikings is a painful reality Packers fans can only hope never happens
Again, so many variables would need to fall into place, but if you're Joe Burrow and considering a destination, the Vikings stand out. Orlovsky names the Jets, Raiders, and Steelers. Minnesota is easily the best landing spot on that list, and it's not particularly close.
He'd instantly receive better pass protection, swapping a woeful Bengals offensive line for a unit anchored by tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O'Neill.
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And Burrow wouldn't lose much at wide receiver. He has a telepathic connection with Ja'Marr Chase, his former LSU teammate, but you know who else played on that team? Justin Jefferson. Add in Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor, and T.J. Hockenson, and Burrow would have all the receiving depth he'd possibly need.
Coach Kevin O'Connell is under pressure after the Vikings' regression this season, but he's still an excellent play-caller and would make Minnesota a perfect landing spot for Burrow. Sending him to an NFC team makes the most sense for Cincinnati. The other names on Orlovsky's list all reside in the Bengals' conference.
OK, be right back. I need to go throw up.
As awful as it is to type those words, it's the painful truth. If Burrow becomes available via trade, he won't find a better landing spot than in Minnesota.
Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah should admit defeat on the McCarthy era and go all-in to make a trade for Burrow.
Jordan Love is playing at an MVP level, and the Packers would remain contenders even if Burrow crashed the NFC North party. Love is arguably better than almost every quarterback in the 2020 draft class, one that includes Tua Tagovailoa, Jalen Hurts, and Justin Herbert. Burrow went first overall, and he is likely still the premier quarterback in that class if given the proper support.
Burrow has struggled to stay healthy, largely because the Bengals haven't protected him, but on talent alone, he is as good as any quarterback in football.
For now, this is just the stuff of nightmares. We can only hope it doesn't become an agonizing reality.