Vikings Trade QB J.J. McCarthy To Giants

McCarthy is being dealt from the Vikings to the Giants, as first reported by The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero. Minnesota will receive a 2027 fifth-round pick in return. This deal (which is now official) marks an end to McCarthy’s run with the Vikings, one which proved to be short-lived and fell well short of expectations.

In New York’s case, a QB move comes as no surprise. Recent days have made it abundantly clear at least one acquisition would be coming due to Jaxson Dart’s season-ending knee injury. The possibility of adding two passers has been raised, and it will be interesting to see if a veteran free agent winds up being signed as well. In any case, this move will give the Giants a young passer under contract through 2026.

McCarthy’s rookie year was lost due to a meniscus tear. Minnesota relied on Sam Darnold to handle starting duties in 2024, but he and midseason signing Daniel Jones each departed in free agency. Darnold now resides with the Seahawks as their QB1, with the same being true of Jones with the Colts. Their absences paved the way for McCarthy’s first NFL action to come as an unquestioned starter.

Things did not go according to plan in 2025, to say the least. McCarthy largely struggled during his 10 starts, and injuries left Minnesota cycling through a number of other passers over the course of the season. Adding competition was a major offseason priority for 2026. Kyler Murray was added in free agency, and as expected he won the QB1 gig this summer. Veteran Carson Wentz, meanwhile, was retained during the spring and wound up surpassing McCarthy for second on the depth chart.

Trade speculation increased once it became clear McCarthy was the third-string option for Minnesota. The general manager in place when he was drafted (Kwesi Adofo-Mensah) was fired amidst reported tension with others in the organization, including head coach Kevin O’Connell. O’Connell has taken on an increased presence with respect to several roster decisions, including of course the quarterback position. This represents one of the most significant Vikings transactions since new GM Nolan Teasley was hired following the draft.

Experience was believed to be a target for the Giants as they sought out insurance behind Jameis Winston. A veteran could still be added, but McCarthy will represent an interesting option. New York was among the teams to show interest in the former NCAA national champion, who spent time at Michigan under Jim Harbaugh. This trade will allow for McCarthy to join Jim’s brother John.

Winston inked an extension recently, and that deal should have him positioned to operate as New York’s starter to close out the campaign. Dart – whose rookie contract runs through 2028 – represents the team’s projected QB1 for next season, so bringing in McCarthy (recently mentioned as a potential trade target) will produce an interesting situation. At the age of 23, he can still be viewed as having upside at the NFL level.

The Giants will take on the prorated remainder of McCarthy’s $1.08MM salary for 2026. With $1.19MM in base pay due next year, he will represent a low-cost option (albeit at a cap charge of $6.95MM) for 2027 as well. In Minnesota’s case, meanwhile, this move represents confirmation that further efforts to develop McCarthy will not be taking place. Instead, team and player will move on.

The Vikings have Murray in place on a one-year pact which was finalized shortly after his Cardinals release. Wentz is also a pending free agent as things stand. The Vikings have former UDFA Max Brosmer on their practice squad. How the team proceeds under center during the coming offseason will be worth watching closely.