Could J.J. McCarthy be on the move? Insiders reveal the Vikings might entertain trade offers, depending on competition and compensation received.
The dust has settled on the 2025 NFL football season. With that, the Minnesota Vikings got a clearer picture on the state of their quarterback room.
The season revealed where starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy was in his development. The result was conclusive: McCarthy is not ready to be a franchise quarterback in the NFL.
That he is not ready yet does not mean he will never become a franchise quarterback. Still, many view McCarthy on the extremes: That he will never become a franchise quarterback or that his team is making a mistake not giving him another season to start and prove himself.
One Vikings insider, however, suggests the Vikings could be open to trading the quarterback should other teams show interest. On Friday, Alec Lewis of The Athletic wrote the following of the potential move.
"Would the Vikings consider trading McCarthy?
This cannot be completely ruled out. Two factors matter in the overall calculus: How perturbed are McCarthy and his camp by the Murray signing? And what would other teams offer?
The Vikings have publicly reiterated their feelings about McCarthy and that they see an advantage in giving him competition. They aren’t completely all in for 2026, evidenced by their measured approach in free agency. But they’re also not punting on a season that must reestablish their standing as formidable foes in the NFC North.
Trading McCarthy would leave no murkiness around the hierarchy in the quarterback room. The Vikings invested too much in McCarthy, though, to pull the plug for anything other than top-tier compensation."
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) passes the ball against the Green Bay Packers in the game at Lambeau Field. Tork Mason-USA TODAY Network via Imagn ImagesLewis' analysis highlights why bringing back McCarthy for the 2026 season might be the shrewdest decision they could make. The question is, what can the Vikings get back for McCarthy? And if the answer is underwhelming, moving on from the quarterback so soon does not make sense.
McCarthy detractors would ask, what's the difference between trading him and going out to sign his replacement? Perhaps the answer is, the Vikings replaced McCarthy because they want to win right now. That said, the team went 9-8 with him at quarterback, setting a respectable floor. And at worst, the team would have a backup quarterback less expensive than some of the free agent options available should Murray get injured.
Add to that, McCarthy does possess first round playmaking ability even though he proved inconsistent. It does not hurt to keep him around in case he does develop into that player down the road.
There's a world in which the Vikings trade McCarthy. That said, the most looks to be that the quarterback stays with the team for 2026.