JJ McCarthy given blunt advice over NFL future

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JJ McCarthy given blunt advice over NFL future

Originally posted on DetroitLionsCommunity
By Dhruv Vishnu Nair | Last updated Jul 26, 2026 1:46 PM ET

Former first-round pick J.J. McCarthy has found it very difficult to cement himself as the franchise quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. Now, an NFL analyst believes that he should look for greener pastures.

It would be an understatement to call McCarthy’s time with the Minnesota Vikings a failure. From missing his rookie season due to a knee injury to being arguably one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the league last season, NFL analyst Kristopher Knox thinks he should look to move on.

“McCarthy may find himself out of opportunities in Minnesota,” wrote Knox. “If that occurs, he should hope to land with another team that doesn’t have a clear long-term QB answer sooner rather than later.”

Knox, who made a list of seven players who needed a change of scenery on Bleacher Report on July 25, also mentioned how McCarthy still has an opportunity to take the starting role.

He also pointed to ESPN’s Dan Graziano’s report of how the Vikings have not given up on him and have instead signed Kyler Murray to help McCarthy refocus and improve from last season.

McCarthy played last season and started in 10 games, recording 1,632 passing yards and scoring 11 touchdowns.

However, he also threw 12 interceptions, as well as having one of the worst pass completion rates in the league with 57.6%. He also had a passer rating of just 35.6 and ranked third lowest among NFL quarterbacks with at least 10 starts.

Despite being selected 10th overall in the 2024 draft, McCarthy’s early struggles have raised doubts.

According to Knox, McCarthy’s ideal options to move to are the New York Jets and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

While they are both great options for McCarthy to take, an NFL analyst predicts that he could instead move to a very surprising team.

Surprising prediction for JJ McCarthy’s possible next team

While Knox believes that McCarthy should move to the New York Jets or the Pittsburgh Steelers, SB Nation’s Jarrett Bailey predicts a move to the Baltimore Ravens instead.

“McCarthy completed less than 60 percent of his passes with 11 touchdowns to 12 interceptions,” wrote Bailey. “He gets dealt to Baltimore and Jesse Minter, who won a National Championship with McCarthy at Michigan as the Wolverines’ defensive coordinator.”

During the year when the Wolverines won the National Championship with McCarthy as their starting quarterback, he had thrown for 2,991 yards. He also scored 22 touchdowns and threw just four interceptions while having a pass success rate of 72.3%.

If McCarthy were to move to the Ravens, he would have an even tougher battle for the starting job with Lamar Jackson, a two-time MVP.

However, there is uncertainty over Jackson’s future with the Ravens as his current contract expires after the 2027 season.

The Ravens will have to re-sign Jackson before he hits free agency, due to a no-tag clause. So, if they failed to re-sign him, the Ravens would have an option in McCarthy to replace Jackson.