How J.J. McCarthy has 'blown away' Giants since trade with Vikings

While the New York Giants suffered a brutal 24-21 home loss to the Washington Commanders that dropped the Giants to 5-3-1 on Thursday night, New York quarterback J.J. McCarthy produced a third solid performance over four games with the club. 

During the Amazon Prime Video pregame show on Thursday, NFL insider James Palmer revealed how McCarthy has impressed those within the Giants since Big Blue acquired him from the Minnesota Vikings in late September. 

Giants committed to keeping J.J. McCarthy beyond this season?

"I was told by one source, 'Yes, it is early, but we have been blown away by the leadership, by the mental grasp of the playbook," Palmer said about how the Giants view McCarthy. "He has won football games. They see there's value this season, and they also love that there's value next season."

The Vikings made McCarthy a first-round pick during the 2024 draft, and he then spent his rookie season recovering from a full meniscus repair. In total, he made just 10 regular-season starts before Minnesota deemed him to be surplus to requirements. 

That said, it was reported earlier this month that Vikings coaches "believed McCarthy had matured significantly since the start of the 2026 offseason...and they were happy the team had been able to send him to a place where he had a chance to be successful." 

McCarthy played well enough to earn a win on Thursday night, as he completed 23 of 36 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He also rushed for 34 yards on six carries. 

Meanwhile, New York's Malik Nabers committed a costly red-zone fumble and has been accused by some of not doing enough to win a 50-50 ball on McCarthy's final pass of the evening. Multiple Giants players were guilty of third-down drops, and John Harbaugh was also responsible for some questionable coaching decisions. 

"McCarthy really has been impressive in his short time in NY," Palmer later added. "Mentally, I'm told he already has the entire offense down. So he knows the plays, but he hasn't actually repped the majority of them more than a handful of times in practice."

Is a QB competition coming to the Giants in 2027?

Previous reports noted that the Giants hoped McCarthy would play well enough this fall to get the team something back for his services via a trade that could be made after the new league year opens in March 2027. During the pregame show, Palmer said that Week 1 starter Jaxson Dart "has been working" with McCarthy at the team's facility amid Dart's rehab from the season-ending knee injury he suffered in Week 2. 

"The opinion of Jaxson Dart has not changed in that building," Palmer explained. 

Earlier this month, Giants general manager Joe Schoen suggested that McCarthy, Dart and current backup Jameis Winston could all be with the club in September 2027. It remains to be seen who will be New York's QB1 at that time.