A Vikings QB Trade Rumor is Quickly Picking Up Momentum

Around the NFL, there have been some injuries piling up. Among those injuries has been the loss of quarterback Jaxson Dart in New York, creating an issue for the New York Giants.

Is J.J. McCarthy part of the solution to that issue? The Vikings QB trade rumor insists that he could be.

Gary Meyers ventures into the idea — catching the eye of some plugged-in Vikings writers — connecting the dots in a social media post, writing, “If Jaxson Dart is done for the year, I think the @Giants should trade for Vikings third-string QB J.J. McCarthy. GM Joe Schoen considered him w/6th overall pick in 2024 (they took Malik Nabers).”

Consider the remainder of the Meyers dot connecting: “McCarthy helped Jim Harbaugh win national championship in 2023 and he loves McCarthy. [Giants head coach] John [Harbaugh] and Jim often sign players with a history with each other. Probably would cost only mid-round pick and Giants could run same RPO offense they were using with Dart that is not suited to Jameis Winston. If McCarthy plays well for Giants, can build up his value to trade him after season or supplant Winston as Dart’s backup. Low-risk move. McCarthy has been huge disappointment in Minnesota but he’s only 23 years old, a few months older than Dart.”

A Vikings QB Trade Rumor Makes the Rounds

On the most basic level, the Meyers rationale makes a lot of sense.

Losing a promising young passer means being suddenly interested in acquiring a new passer. The Harbaugh connection makes sense; so does the comment about the Giants liking McCarthy going into the 2024 NFL Draft. Seriously considering McCarthy at No. 6 overall means boasting some serious belief; how much of that belief remains? If the Giants did call to explore a trade, what kind of offer would be put onto the table?

NFL front offices are commonly in contact (they chat more than fans realize). Presumably, some teams have already explored the possibility of snagging J.J. McCarthy but Minnesota hasn’t traded the young fella.

Why?

Part of the reason could be that the price hasn’t been met (assuming an offer or two has been made). Any team calling with the offer with a 1st-Round selection could pry away McCarthy. There’s no team, though, that’s going to offer anywhere close to that amount. Much more likely is a Day 3 pick — something from the 4th to 7th — to snag Mr. McCarthy.

The Vikings don’t appear likely to move on for so little. After all, injuries have already been a problem in the Twin Cities. Does a 5th really make sense for McCarthy?

Kyler Murray has faced a pair of main criticisms in his career. Work ethic concerns aside (the Vikings’ leadership doesn’t share these same concerns), Murray’s primary hurdle has been his health, or lack thereof. The newcomer missed most of Week 1 and all of Week 2 due to his concussion. Murray is now healthy, but are the Vikings keen to diminish the quarterback depth? Likely not.

Despite all of the terrible play, J.J. McCarthy went 6-4 last season. As many have pointed out, a late special teams gaffe against the Bears kept the kid from going 7-3. Something to be said for that, folks, especially with so many players in the locker room who like McCarthy.

If the New York Giants call about J.J. McCarthy’s availability, nobody should be surprised. There’s some reasonable dot connecting that can be done. Does that reasonable speculation ever breakthrough to become reality?

The Vikings QB trade still resides in the land of rumor and is unlikely to leave that territory. Losing McCarthy means boasting Max Brosmer as the QB3, a potential outcome the Vikings would be wise to avoid.

Next up on the schedule is a Week 3 Buccaneers game down in Tampa Bay.