NFL trade: Giants acquire QB J.J. McCarthy from Vikings

The New York Giants have acquired quarterback J.J. McCarthy from the Minnesota Vikings for a 2027 fifth-round pick.

The Vikings announced the trade Monday pending McCarthy passing a physical.

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The Giants made the aggressive move days after Jaxson Dart had surgery on his left knee that will sideline him for at least the rest of the regular season.

Jameis Winston started and the Giants beat Tennessee on Sunday, despite not scoring a touchdown and having just 238 yards of offense. Coach John Harbaugh said afterward that Winston would get the nod again this Sunday against Arizona but hinted that the Giants were not content to stand pat in Dart’s absence.

“The plans are the plans,” Harbaugh said. “The opportunities that you have are the opportunities you have. No matter what, we’re going to do everything we can to make our team as strong as we can based on what options we have.”

The first opportunity turned out to be adding McCarthy, the 10th pick in the 2024 draft who lost the starting job in Minnesota to Kyler Murray and fell behind Carson Wentz on the depth chart.

McCarthy was the Vikings’ choice to take over as the starting QB after Sam Darnold left in free agency for the Seattle Seahawks prior to the 2025 season. He started 10 games last year, completing 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

McCarthy missed what would have been his rookie season after injuring his right knee. He was picked a year ahead of Dart, but each was born in 2003, with McCarthy being just four months older.

Long term, that sets up a fascinating situation for New York. For now, McCarthy provides competition for Winston, and it’s not out of the realm of possibility that another QB is added to the mix.

The Vikings sold low on a player who led Michigan to the national title in his final college season and was once considered a big part of Minnesota’s future.

Seattle Sports staff made minor additions to this post.

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