Overview
- The Vikings announced on Monday that they traded former No. 10 overall pick J.J. McCarthy to the New York Giants for a 2027 fifth-round pick, pending a physical.
- The move responds to the Giants’ loss of starter Jaxson Dart to season-ending knee surgery and gives New York an insurance option behind veteran starter Jameis Winston.
- McCarthy is expected to learn the Giants’ offense and serve initially as a backup and possible competition for Winston rather than an immediate starter.
- McCarthy’s trade value fell sharply after injuries and uneven play limited him to 10 starts in 2025, when he completed about 57.6% of passes for 1,632 yards with 11 TDs and 12 INTs.
- For Minnesota, the deal clears a crowded quarterback room after McCarthy lost ground to Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz, while for the Giants it creates a low-cost short-term hedge and a longer-term evaluation opportunity.