Vikings Trade J.J. McCarthy to Giants for 2027 Fifth-Round Pick
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Minnesota moves the former first-round pick after a struggling tenure marked by injuries and poor production.
The Minnesota Vikings traded quarterback J.J. McCarthy to the New York Giants on Monday, Sports Illustrated reports. In exchange for the former 10th-overall pick, the Vikings received a fifth-round pick in 2027.
McCarthy's time in Minnesota was characterized by inconsistency and injury, resulting in a total of 10 games played. According to Sports Illustrated, McCarthy finished his tenure with 12 interceptions and 11 passing touchdowns. While McCarthy was once viewed as the long-term answer at the quarterback position, the Vikings opted to end the experiment midway through his third year.
Reporting from Sports Illustrated notes that the trade comes despite poor passing numbers from current Vikings quarterbacks Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz. While Murray's trajectory is trending upward and Wentz has provided a solid floor, the Vikings have decided against giving the 23-year-old McCarthy another opportunity to play for the team.
Sports Illustrated writer Trevor Ripley suggests the return of a single fifth-round pick is low value for a player who was competing for the starting role just six weeks prior, noting that head coach Kevin O'Connell's inability to develop the young quarterback remains a significant point of criticism.