J.J. McCarthy shocked by Giants trade, but the Vikings’ decision came months ago
· Yahoo Sports
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy called his trade from the Minnesota Vikings to the New York Giants a shock, but the former No. 10 overall pick had watched Minnesota build its plans around another quarterback since March.
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The Giants sent a 2027 fifth-round pick to Minnesota for McCarthy on Sept. 28. “When I got the call here, it was a shock,” he said Friday via ESPN. “I didn’t anticipate it, but at the end of the day, it’s an opportunity.”
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McCarthy’s record with the Vikings
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell greets quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) during warmups prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn ImagesMcCarthy’s surprise doesn’t match what happened in Minnesota. The Vikings traded up with the New York Jets to draft him 10th overall in 2024, and he spent his rookie year on injured reserve after he tore his meniscus in the preseason.
His 10 starts came in 2025. McCarthy went 6-4, but he completed 57.6% of his passes and threw 12 interceptions against 11 touchdowns. An ankle injury and then a season-ending shoulder injury pulled him off the field, so veteran Carson Wentz started five games in his place.
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Who replaced McCarthy in Minnesota?
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray (1) scrambles with the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Matt Pendleton-Imagn ImagesThe Vikings signed quarterback Kyler Murray to a one-year deal in March. Coach Kevin O’Connell called the summer battle an open competition, and the two split first-team reps in camp. Still, it lasted only 10 practices before O’Connell named Murray the starter on Aug. 11.
O’Connell said Murray had “shown enough” to earn the job. He also backed McCarthy that day. “He’s still a guy that’s only played 10 games,” O’Connell said.
Then Murray left the Week 1 win over the Green Bay Packers with a concussion, and Minnesota sent Wentz in. McCarthy was inactive as the emergency third quarterback that day. Wentz threw three touchdown passes in the 39-22 win and started again in Week 2.
McCarthy was inactive for the second time this season on Sept. 27, one day before the trade. A team that ranks its 2024 first-round pick behind a veteran on a one-year deal and a 33-year-old backup has already made its decision. The fifth-round return showed how far his value had fallen.
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McCarthy’s next chance with the Giants
New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh talks to his players | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)New York traded for McCarthy after starter Jaxson Dart suffered a season-ending knee injury. Jameis Winston remains the starter for the 2-1 Giants. Coach John Harbaugh hasn’t said whether McCarthy will be the second or third quarterback this week against the Arizona Cardinals. An Ourlads’ depth chart for the Giants shows McCarthy at the No. 2 spot.
Harbaugh watched McCarthy win a national championship at Michigan under his brother, Jim. The 64-year-old coach liked what he saw from the former Wolverines passer in his first week of practice. “He wants to learn. He wants to know it all,” Harbaugh said.
McCarthy declined to get into what went wrong with the Vikings and said he’s focused on this week’s game plan. He’ll start that work on the scout team, seven weeks after he lost the Minnesota starting job to Murray.
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