Giants Acquire Quarterback J.J. McCarthy from Vikings in Trade

The New York Giants have acquired quarterback J.J. McCarthy from the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round draft pick, pending McCarthy passing a physical exam. The trade comes as the Giants seek additional quarterback depth following a season-ending knee injury to their second-year starter, Jaxson Dart.

McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, spent his first two seasons with the Vikings after a standout college career at Michigan. His rookie year was wiped out by a knee injury, and in 2025 he started 10 games but struggled with consistency. McCarthy completed 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards, throwing 11 touchdowns against 12 interceptions, while also rushing for 181 yards and four touchdowns.

During the 2026 offseason, Minnesota signed Kyler Murray, who secured the starting quarterback role. Veteran Carson Wentz also surpassed McCarthy on the depth chart, relegating the former first-round pick to the third-string quarterback position. This limited McCarthy’s opportunities, prompting the Vikings to move on and clear salary space by trading him.

The Giants, meanwhile, have turned to Jameis Winston as their starter after Dart’s injury in Week 2. Winston’s performances have been uneven, and New York is seeking to bolster its quarterback ranks with a younger option. McCarthy’s familiarity with the Harbaugh coaching family may ease his transition; he played under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, while John Harbaugh, Jim’s brother, is the Giants’ head coach.

It remains unclear how quickly McCarthy will integrate into the Giants’ system or what role he will play moving forward. The trade provides New York with a developmental quarterback option behind Winston as they navigate the 2026 season without Dart.