The Vikings traded quarterback J.J. McCarthy to the New York Giants on Monday, September 28, 2026, in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round pick. Minnesota announced the deal, which depends on McCarthy passing a physical. The Giants made the move after losing starter Jaxson Dart for the season, and McCarthy is expected to begin as a backup rather than a starter.
What Are the Terms of the J.J. McCarthy Trade?
Short answer: the Giants get a former No. 10 pick for a fifth-round choice.
- Sent to Minnesota: a 2027 fifth-round pick ESPN
- Sent to New York: McCarthy, who Minnesota picked at No. 10 in the 2024 draft ESPN
- Status: pending a physical exam Minnesota Vikings
- Reported by: ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, with the Vikings confirming
The price is low for a first-round quarterback, which fits how far his stock had fallen in Minnesota.
Why Did the Giants Trade for McCarthy?
Short answer: Dart’s injury left New York thin, and McCarthy offers cheap control and upside.
Dart suffered a Week 2 knee injury that is expected to sideline him for the regular season. Veteran Jameis Winston has filled in, and coach John Harbaugh said after Sunday’s 12-7 win over the Titans that Winston would remain the starter even if the team added another quarterback.
One analysis argued the deal is worth it because McCarthy is under contract on his rookie deal through 2026 and 2027, with a 2028 fifth-year option worth considering. Reporting also noted that the Giants scouted him heavily before the 2024 draft, and that his ability to move outside the pocket could fit parts of the offense built around Dart.
Original take: a fifth-round pick is a cheap way to buy a two-year look at a young quarterback. The cost is low enough that McCarthy doesn’t have to succeed to justify it. If he improves, New York owns his rights on a rookie deal. If he doesn’t, they’ve lost very little.
Why Did the Vikings Trade J.J. McCarthy?
Short answer: he lost the starting job to Kyler Murray and then the backup job to Carson Wentz.
The trade ended McCarthy’s time in Minnesota after just 10 starts in two seasons. Murray, a free-agent addition, was named the starter on August 11 after a training camp competition. Wentz was later named the backup over McCarthy.
The trade also leaves Minnesota in good shape in the standings. The Vikings are 3-0 after closing 2025 with a 5-0 mark. Coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense is now built around Murray, who is 29 and on a one-year deal, so the quarterback question returns in the 2027 offseason.
What Are J.J. McCarthy’s Stats and Injury History?
Short answer: a torn meniscus wiped out his rookie year, and his 2025 numbers were weak.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Missed the entire season with a torn right meniscus |
| 2025 (10 starts) | 57.6% completions, 11 touchdowns, 12 interceptions |
| 2025 rank | Last among 33 qualified passers in completion percentage; missed seven games with various injuries |
| 2026 preseason | Injured his right leg after a series of low hits in the second exhibition game against the Ravens |
His debut was promising. In Week 1 of 2025, he finished 13-of-20 for 143 yards, two passing touchdowns and a rushing score, all in the fourth quarter, and earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week. But it took just 337 days to lose his starting job after that first start.
I did not find a reliable 2026 regular-season stat line for him, since he has been a reserve. Check his Pro Football Reference page for updates once he plays for New York.
What Is J.J. McCarthy’s Contract?
Short answer: a fully guaranteed four-year rookie deal worth about $21.85 million, running through 2027.
Spotrac lists a four-year, $21,854,796 contract that includes a $12,714,396 signing bonus, with a 2026 cap hit of about $5.97 million. The fifth-year option would cover 2028, and the team would have to decide on it by early May. That decision is now the Giants’ to make.
Where Does This Leave the Giants’ Quarterback Room?
For now, Winston starts and McCarthy backs him up. The team has to decide whether McCarthy is a developmental project or a possible starter by spring. The best-case scenario is a reset with a new coach, and the Giants’ head coach, John Harbaugh, is the brother of Jim Harbaugh, who coached McCarthy at Michigan. Whether that connection helps is unproven.
FAQ Section
Giants trading jj mccarthy
Yes. The Giants are acquiring McCarthy from the Vikings for a 2027 fifth-round pick, pending a physical. The move followed Jaxson Dart’s season-ending knee injury.
Giants news jj mccarthy
The latest news is the trade itself, reported Monday, September 28, 2026. McCarthy is expected to back up starter Jameis Winston. Further updates will come after the physical and his first practices in New York.
J.J. McCarthy draft
The Vikings selected McCarthy 10th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Michigan. He was the fifth of six quarterbacks taken in the first round. The Giants passed on him that year.
JJ McCarthy meme
The meme centers on “Nine,” his self-created game-day alter ego tied to his jersey number. He said it grew out of his time away from football with injury. It became a punchline during his 2025 struggles, and even a Brazilian soccer club joined in.
J.J. McCarthy age
McCarthy is 23 and was born in 2003.
J.J. McCarthy stats
In 2025 he started 10 games, completed 57.6% of his passes, and threw 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He missed his entire 2024 rookie season with a torn meniscus. He has had little 2026 regular-season action.
J.J. McCarthy injury
He tore his right meniscus in the 2024 preseason and missed his whole rookie year. He missed seven games in 2025 with various injuries. He also hurt his right leg in a 2026 preseason game against the Ravens.
J.J. McCarthy contract
He signed a four-year, roughly $21.85 million fully guaranteed rookie deal that runs through 2027. A fifth-year option could extend it through 2028. His 2026 cap hit is about $5.97 million, per Spotrac.
Author Bio: Hamid Ali is an NFL and sports writer covering quarterback trades, player contracts, team news, and league developments. He focuses on clear, research-based analysis of NFL players, rosters, statistics, and major transactions.
Author Name: Hamid Ali
Email: johanharwen314@gmail.com
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