While the Minnesota Vikings have been one of the NFL’s best teams this season, it’s also created a potential conundrum regarding J.J. McCarthy’s future with the franchise.
After all, a big part of the Vikings’ success this season has been because of Sam Darnold’s play at quarterback. As a result, many expect Minnesota to re-sign the 27-year-old, who is currently playing on a one-year, $10 million contract.
Re-signing Darnold, however, could create a ripple effect after Minnesota drafted another quarterback — McCarthy — in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the former Michigan signal-caller will have to wait until 2026 — or later — for his first chance to start, however, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting that he expects teams to call the Vikings about potentially acquiring McCarthy via a trade in the coming offseason.
“In the limited [2025] quarterback draft class, where there are far more teams that need quarterbacks than quarterbacks that could step in right away, I definitely think teams will be checking in with the Vikings to see if they have any interest in trading J.J. McCarthy,” Schefter told ESPN Radio’s Unsportsmanlike on Wednesday. “Now they may say, ‘We don’t’ and that’s the end of it. But do I think teams will explore that option.”
Schefter also added: “J.J. McCarthy would have been a top — if not the top — quarterback prospect in the [2025] draft.”
“JJ McCarthy would’ve been a top if not THE top QB in this draft.”@AdamSchefter says teams will be calling the @Vikings to inquire about their rookie QB this offseason 👀 pic.twitter.com/ccgautztGb
— ESPN Radio (@ESPNRadio) January 1, 2025
While McCarthy is currently recovering from a meniscus injury that’s sidelined him for the entirety of his rookie season, it’s not hard to imagine teams in search of a young quarterback at least inquiring about potentially trading for the 21-year-old signal-caller.
Following Schefter’s comments on Wednesday, many took to social media to weigh in on such a possibility coming to fruition.
February + March are going to be crazy for the Vikings https://t.co/wlYRGTkwav
— Phil Mackey 🎙 (@PhilMackey) January 1, 2025
If Darnold plays well in the post season, it’d be a far bigger risk to hand the keys to JJ than to extend Darnold https://t.co/69cDxamLqr
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) January 1, 2025
If McCarthy had returned to Michigan, he’d be the obvious 1.1 pick this April. He’s in another tier from the QBs available in this class.
Trading him while erasing your salary cap warchest would be an unforced error by a front office that hasnt made many the past year and a half https://t.co/oIEdcRelWW
— Thor Nystrom (@thorku) January 1, 2025
Whoever is running the Giants after the season should be among those teams to inquire about McCarthy.
There’s a very good amount of upside here physically with his arm and his athletic abilities as a runner. He turns just 22 on January 20th. #Giants100 https://t.co/Zh84Gu4ZJL
— WBG84 (@WBG84) January 1, 2025
From what I’ve gathered, the #Giants are the primary team hoping that JJ McCarthy is available. https://t.co/vidWm3XiM4
— SCOUTD (@scoutdnfl) January 1, 2025
This JJ McCarthy to Raiders talk getting louder and louder.
Seems like a Tom Brady move than anything if it does happen because of the Michigan connection. https://t.co/oBXiWjuUNA
— Łunaticø (@LakeShow4Life9) January 1, 2025
