Giants trade for Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy following Jaxson Dart injury

The Minnesota Vikings have officially moved on from J.J. McCarthy.

The Vikings traded the 2024 No. 10 overall pick to the New York Giants in exchange for a 2027 fifth-rounder, the team announced on Monday.

Minnesota cashed out on McCarthy after just 10 starts in which he struggled mightily with accuracy. The Vikings' move on from the 23-year-old was telegraphed during the offseason, when the club sought free agent Kyler Murray and re-signed veteran Carson Wentz. Minnesota gave McCarthy a cursory shot to win a job during training camp, but he ultimately was squeezed out.

McCarthy missed his entire rookie season after suffering a preseason knee injury. The Vikings then watched Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones walk out of the building during the 2025 offseason, handing the reins to their first-round pick. McCarthy, however, struggled to stay healthy and, when on the field, was scattershot, showing only brief glimpses of consistently moving the offense.

In his 10 starts last year -- his only appearances in a Vikings jersey -- McCarthy completed 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

During training camp and preseason, the struggles continued, and it became clear the Vikings couldn’t trust McCarthy, even as the primary backup. With the former first-rounder relegated to an inactive emergency third QB to start the season, it was only a matter of time before Minnesota shipped him out of town. The move clears roughly $4.5 million from the Vikings' books (not nothing, but a pittance for the QB position).

Kevin O’Connell once famously said, “I believe that organizations fail young quarterbacks before young quarterbacks fail organizations." In relation to McCarthy, the Giants are hoping the Vikings gave up on the youngster too quickly.

With Jaxson Dart out for the regular season after suffering a Week 2 knee injury, the Giants planned to bring in more quarterback help. McCarthy's arrival gives John Harbaugh’s team a young passer to build on as they work through the season. McCarthy’s best days came at Michigan under Jim Harbaugh; perhaps his brother can coax positive play where KOC failed.

Jameis Winston is currently QB1 in New York, but his play has been more in line with a spot starter than a passer who can succeed over a 15-game stretch. John Harbaugh told reporters on 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.”

Big Blue now has another option if Winston’s play further deteriorates or he gets injured. The Giants previously signed Jake Haener (one career start with New Orleans) from the practice squad to the active roster for Sunday's win over the Titans. How quickly McCarthy gets up to speed in the new offense could determine when he might see the field for New York.