Vikings trade J.J. McCarthy to Giants for 2027 fifth-round pick

The Vikings cleared roughly $4.5 million in cap space and sent McCarthy to New York for a 2027 fifth-round pick, the team said Monday. McCarthy completed 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 10 starts last season. He missed his entire rookie season with a preseason knee injury, then watched Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones leave Minnesota during the 2025 offseason.

From first round to third string

By this season, McCarthy had been relegated to an inactive emergency third quarterback behind Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz. Armando Salguero of OutKick wrote that McCarthy went from starter at the end of last season, to fighting for the job with Murray in training camp, to third string when the regular season began. When Murray missed time after a concussion in the opener, the Vikings turned to Wentz, not McCarthy. That was a signal the Vikings were giving up on McCarthy.

What the Giants are getting

New York needed a quarterback after Jaxson Dart tore his MCL and meniscus in Week 2 and had season-ending surgery. McCarthy gives John Harbaugh's team a young passer to build on, NFL.com reported. The Giants are 2-1 and will start Jameis Winston against the Cardinals in Week 4. For Giants fans, the trade is an insurance move behind Winston, not a replacement for Dart. The team remains committed to Dart and his development, and McCarthy is expected to learn the system and eventually compete with Jake Haener for the backup role this season.

McCarthy’s best days at Michigan came under Jim Harbaugh, John Harbaugh's brother. New York is hoping that family connection produces better play than Minnesota got.

Harbaugh on Winston

John Harbaugh said Monday that Winston will start New York's Week 4 game against the Cardinals. “All the other conversation isn’t going to help us beat the Cardinals. So it’s irrelevant,” Harbaugh said. “Jameis will be the starter for as long as I can see into the future.”

McCarthy arrives as a low-cost flier on his rookie contract through 2027. How quickly he gets up to speed in the new offense could determine when he sees the field for New York.