JJ McCarthy is going to the New York Giants.
A week after Jaxson Dart was lost to the franchise for the season with a knee injury that required surgery, the Giants sent an unconditional fifth-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft to the Minnesota Vikings for McCarthy, who lost battles in training camp last summer not only for the starting job (to Kyler Murray) but eventually for the backup job to Carson Wentz.
When Dart went down for the season, it sparked speculation that the Giants could move for a new quarterback, instead of handing the keys to Jameis Winston for the entire season. While New York won Sunday against the 12-7 Tennessee Titans, the offense wasn’t exactly running on all cylinders after Dart’s injury. And with New York losing Brian Burns for the season due to his own knee injury, the Giants need every bit of offense they can get.
Let’s give some grades.
After Dart’s injury, we tested the quarterback trade waters at NFL Feed by asking which backup quarterbacks could be traded before the annual NFL Trade Deadline.
While many balked at the idea of a trade, due to the risk associated with trading a backup at a premium position, the Giants were able to work out a deal to acquire McCarthy ahead of the deadline. Giving up a fifth-round pick for a cost-controlled quarterback with ten NFL starts under his belt and just 23 years old seems like solid business, even if it’s your proverbial “dart throw.” While McCarthy has not lived up to expectations of being a first-round selection, there is upside, and New York offensive coordinator Matt Nagy has a history of quarterback development, dating back to his time with Mitchell Trubisky and the Chicago Bears. Although Trubisky never lived up to the billing that came with being the No. 2 quarterbacks taken in the 2017 NFL Draft — eight spots ahead of Patrick Mahomes — Nagy was able to get Trubisky and the Bears into the playoffs.
If he can work similar magic in a season where the Giants lost their starter? Unbelievable.
Otherwise, New York gives up a fifth-round pick.
For the Vikings, this trade solves two distinct issues.
First, it ends the speculation over McCarthy’s future and eliminates any real chance of quarterback controversy, at least for this season. When a team drafts a young quarterback in the first round, there is every expectation that the player will see the field. Even if you bring in a veteran like Murray.
After just three weeks, the Vikings are 3-0 and leading the NFC North. While Murray hasn’t been flawless, the defense has been, as Brian Flores’ unit has struggled with Jordan Love, Caleb Williams, and Baker Mayfield over the past three weeks. Minnesota’s defense is giving up 13.7 points per game — ranking second in the NFL — and when you look at Projected Additions, the Vikings are almost off the chart:
This is a playoff defense that just needs a little more consistency from the offense, and with the talent around the quarterback position, a solid veteran could be a better answer for 2026 than the unpredictability McCarthy has shown in his ten NFL starts.
The other reason this is a win for Minnesota is a financial one. By trading McCarthy, even on his rookie deal, the move saves the Vikings money. As Tom Pelissero noted, by moving the quarterback now, the Vikings save nearly $5 million in cash and cap space:
Also good business for a quarterback who probably needs a fresh start.
It was also good for JJ McCarthy.
Things didn’t come together for him in Minnesota. There were flashes — like a comeback win against the Chicago Bears at the start of last season — but it never really clicked for him with the Vikings.
Sometimes, you just need a fresh start.
He’ll get that, playing for John Harbaugh. He may not start right away for the Giants, he will likely have some time to learn Nagy’s system, but this could be a good environment for him to show what he can be in the NFL. With Dart on the roster, it’s unlikely that McCarthy will replace another young quarterback on the roster as the starting QB going forward, but this could be the best chance for McCarthy to land another starting job elsewhere in the league.