Adam CarlsonSep 12, 2026
Carlson names three Vikings they expect could be traded before the end of September: quarterback J.J. McCarthy, wide receiver Jordan Addison and linebacker Ivan Pace.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Adam Carlson said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromthere is a chance that at least one player from head coach Kevin O'Connell's roster will be traded before the end of September
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- 3 Vikings Who Could Be Traded Before September Is Over
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidSep 12
- GradedOct 8
- 1J.J. McCarthy to move to Minnesota Vikings“By now, it feels like a parting of J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings is inevitable. ... Minnesota will have to shop him around the league to see if there are any interested franchises”
- 2Ivan Pace Jr. to move to Minnesota Vikings“To get as much value as possible for Pace, a trade would have to be done soon.”
- 3Jordan Addison to move to Minnesota Vikings“However, for the right compensation, it would make sense for Minnesota to trade away the former first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.J. McCarthy to move to Minnesota Vikings1 | Trade and Signing Calls | — | 100 | 0 | +200 | |
| Ivan Pace Jr. to move to Minnesota Vikings2 | Trade and Signing Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Jordan Addison to move to Minnesota Vikings3 | Trade and Signing Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 3 calls · 1 hit · 2 waiting | 100 | 0 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naive3 checkable claims — 3 trade and signing calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 3 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
1Trade and Signing CallsJ.J. McCarthyMinnesota Vikings
J.J. McCarthy to move to Minnesota Vikings
VerdictHit100Hit · naive 0100this call−0a naive guess=100better than naive×2difficulty=+200skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- J.J. McCarthy
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he leaves
- was with:
- MIN
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- reported:
- traded → NYG (from MIN)
- how he left:
- traded
- mechanism:
- traded
- settled by:
- a confirmed report from the crawl (reported outcomes)
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he stays where he is
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
2Trade and Signing CallsIvan Pace Jr.Minnesota Vikings
Ivan Pace Jr. to move to Minnesota Vikings
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Trade and Signing CallsJordan AddisonMinnesota Vikings
Jordan Addison to move to Minnesota Vikings
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Logan Lazarczyk · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Ahead of the trade deadline, they float three Raiders moves: shipping Kirk Cousins to Minnesota if the Vikings offer a second-round pick, selling Maxx Crosby to Dallas for a first-rounder plus, and acquiring Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for a second- or third-round pick.Patricia Traina · Trade and Signing Calls · J.J. McCarthy · Hit 100
Traina expects defensive tackle to be a top need for the Giants in next year's draft, and suggests the Giants could trade J.J. McCarthy next offseason — or keep both them and Jaxson Dart if the return isn't good enough. They also expect Dart to make a full recovery.Charean Williams · Roster Spot Calls · Odell Beckham Jr. · Miss 0
Williams writes that after releasing Odell Beckham Jr. to open a roster spot for Kirk Cousins, the Vikings will bring them back on the practice squad.Justin Penik · Trade and Signing Calls · Aaron Jones · Hit 100
Pennock predicted Sam Darnold to Pittsburgh, Zach Baun re-signing in Philadelphia, Charvarius Ward and Jamien Sherwood to Washington, Cam Robinson to Chicago as left tackle, Cam Bynum to the Jets, Darius Slayton to the Chargers, Aaron Jones back to Minnesota and Aaron Rodgers to the Giants.
More trade and signing calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Chris Clark · Trade and Signing Calls · Nikko Remigio · Miss 0
Clark expects the Chiefs to bring back exclusive-rights receiver Nico (Remigio) and long snapper James Winchester, to re-sign JuJu Smith-Schuster as a cheap veteran fifth receiver, and not to bring back Hollywood Brown, Josh Dobbs-type depth, Gardner Minshew, Janarius Robinson or Mike Caliendo; they also say the Chiefs will not use a franchise tag and believes Bryan Cook won't return.Nate Gosney · Trade and Signing Calls · Daiyan Henley · Miss 0
After the Broncos rescinded the trade, Gosney expects Daiyan Henley to remain with the Chargers for the rest of the 2026 season, but believes the awkward fallout has effectively killed any chance of them signing a new contract with Los Angeles after the season.Michael David Smith · Trade and Signing Calls · Keenan Allen · Hit 100
Smith suggests the Colts are likely to grant Josh Downs' trade request given their contract situation and their recent sell-off, and that they could also try to trade Keenan Allen.Noah Compton · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Compton expects the rebuilding Colts to keep dealing veterans before the November 10 deadline, naming Jonathan Taylor, Josh Downs and Grover Stewart as the likeliest remaining trade candidates, and believes Indianapolis should and likely will move on from quarterback Daniel Jones, while Shane Steichen keeps starting Jones in the meantime.Mike Fanelli · Trade and Signing Calls · Keenan Allen · Hit 100
Fanelli suggested Keenan Allen may be dealt away from Indianapolis, with Week 9 potentially their final appearance for the Colts.Gilberto Manzano · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Previewing the trade deadline, he expects Justin Herbert to stay in Los Angeles despite the Chargers' 0–7 start, thinks the Jets will keep Garrett Wilson and pair him with their young weapons, expects a receiver-hungry Kansas City to be aggressive with Josh Downs the likeliest target, and suggests expiring Eagles contracts Moro Ojomo and Riq Woolen could be dealt for mid-round picks.