The JJ McCarthy trade is done, at least on paper. The Minnesota Vikings announced on Monday, September 28 that they have sent the 23-year-old quarterback to the New York Giants for a 2027 fifth-round pick. The deal is pending a physical. Two and a half years ago Minnesota took McCarthy 10th overall and built its future around him. On Monday he left for a late-round pick and a fresh start under a familiar surname.
The move answers a need in New York. Starter Jaxson Dart had knee surgery after getting hurt in the Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, and the Giants say he is out for at least the rest of the regular season. Minnesota, meanwhile, had McCarthy third on its depth chart behind Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz, according to the Vikings’ own announcement.
JJ McCarthy trade: the key numbers
These figures come from the Vikings’ official release and his player record, and they show why the price fell so far.
| Drafted | No. 10 overall, 2024, out of Michigan |
| Rookie season | Missed all of 2024 after a preseason knee injury |
| 2025 starts | 10, with the Vikings going 6-4 |
| Passing | 140 of 243 (57.6 percent), 1,632 yards |
| Touchdowns and interceptions | 11 touchdowns, 12 interceptions |
| Passer rating | 72.6 |
| Price paid by New York | One 2027 fifth-round pick |
A winning record as a starter is the part that gets forgotten. The other numbers are harder to defend. ESPN’s research put him 36th in Total QBR among 40 quarterbacks with at least five starts last season, and 39th in completion rate. He also dealt with a string of injuries in 2025, and a mild ankle sprain in his final preseason game this August.
How McCarthy fell to third string in Minnesota
The Vikings named Kyler Murray their starter on August 11. Murray left Week 1 in the concussion protocol after only 11 snaps, and it was the veteran Carson Wentz, not McCarthy, who started Week 2. Murray came back in Week 3, and the team has not lost. Minnesota is 3-0 after Sunday’s 23-16 win in Tampa, which you can read about in our Vikings vs Buccaneers recap.
That is the whole story in one detail. When the starter went down, the coaching staff reached past its former first-round pick for a veteran backup. Kevin O’Connell once said that organizations fail young quarterbacks before young quarterbacks fail organizations, a line NFL.com recalled on Monday. Minnesota clearly decided it had given McCarthy his chance.
What it means for the Giants
Do not expect McCarthy under center right away. Head coach John Harbaugh said after Sunday’s win over Tennessee that Jameis Winston would stay the starter even if the team added a quarterback, according to ESPN and the Associated Press. The Giants beat the Titans 12-7 without scoring a touchdown, so the pressure on the offense has not gone away.
There is an obvious connection here too. McCarthy won a national championship at Michigan under Jim Harbaugh. His new head coach is Jim’s brother. ESPN reported that New York is waiving quarterback Jake Haener to make room, with a plan to bring him back on the practice squad.
For a fifth-round pick, the Giants get a 23-year-old former top 10 pick with a winning record as a starter. If it does not work, they have lost very little. If Winston struggles, they now have a younger option waiting behind him.
What’s next for both teams
Both clubs play on Sunday, October 4. The Giants host the Arizona Cardinals at MetLife Stadium at 1pm ET, and Harbaugh has said Winston will start that game. The Vikings host the Miami Dolphins at 4:05pm ET, chasing a 4-0 start with Murray and Wentz as their two quarterbacks.
The physical is the last box to tick. Once it clears, McCarthy’s time in Minnesota ends with 10 starts, one winning season as a starter, and a lot of questions about what might have been.
