The Pittsburgh Steelers have been linked as a possible J.J. McCarthy trade suitor, but would the move actually make sense?
The Pittsburgh Steelers know very well that they have a quarterback question mark facing them following the 2026 NFL season. With Aaron Rodgers publicly saying that this year will be his final season, the team will need to come up with a long-term option.
While there is some optimism that either Will Howard or Drew Allar can be that guy, that scenario is far from being a guarantee.
Due to the situation the Steelers find themselves in, they are starting to be connected to outside quarterback options. One potential option for Pittsburgh could be current Minnesota Vikings signal caller J.J. McCarthy.
On July 25, Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox suggested that the Steelers could be a potential trade suitor for McCarthy. He noted that McCarthy could still end up winning the Vikings' starting job and remain with the team, but a trade could also be on the table.
Knox named both Pittsburgh and the New York Jets as "ideal landing spots" for McCarthy.
Does J.J. McCarthy Make Sense for the Pittsburgh Steelers?
Should the Steelers consider pursuing a trade for McCarthy? Let's take a look at what the young quarterback has done so far throughout his first two years.
McCarthy was forced to sit out his entire rookie season after suffering a knee injury during preseason action. Unfortunately, he missed out on a lot of valuable reps that year.
Last season, Minnesota decided to let Sam Darnold walk in free agency. The franchise decided to hand the keys of the offense over to McCarthy. It was a disappointing all-around year for the Vikings.
When all was said and done, the second-year quarterback played in just 10 games and dealt with multiple injury issues. He completed 57.6 percent of his passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, while also running for 181 yards and four more scores.
Minnesota was clearly not convinced that McCarthy could be a franchise quarterback. The Vikings quickly signed former No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray in free agency after he parted ways with the Arizona Cardinals. That move is why McCarthy is viewed as a potential trade candidate.
So, to answer the question, should Pittsburgh be interested in McCarthy? Honestly, the Steelers should have interest in him if the price is right.
At the end of the day, McCarthy was drafted with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft for a reason. He has the potential to become a long-term starter. However, there is a lot of work for him to do in order to reach that level.
If the Steelers could get him for a mid-round pick, it would be no-brainer decision. Pittsburgh should not, however, give up a second-round pick to acquire McCarthy.
Obviously, the Steelers need to figure out what they're going to do after Rodgers. If they are comfortable with Howard and Allar, no move is necessary. But, if they see a good chance that neither young quarterback on the roster can become a franchise quarterback, pivoting to making a move for McCarthy should be a legitimate option.
