The J.J. McCarthy Rumor Mill Takes a Chill Pill
· Yahoo Sports
Just because the Minnesota Vikings appear to be on track for a Kyler Murray season at QB1 does not mean that J.J. McCarthy will be on the trade block.
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That’s the message from The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis this week, as McCarthy trade rumors have swirled in recent days after some thought McCarthy sounded disgruntled at Vikings organized team activities. Minnesota controls McCarthy’s contract through the end of 2027 — and 2028 if it exercises his fifth-year option.
Vikings Should Keep the Two QBs in the Picture
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) goes through warmups before a preseason matchup against the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium. On Aug. 9, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, McCarthy prepared for another opportunity to lead Minnesota’s offense as anticipation continued to build around the young passer entering his first season as QB1. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn ImagesMcCarthy Trade Theories Dialed Back
Plugged into the Vikings more than most, Lewis said this week, “My conversations with people internally have not been about trade. They have not been about those comments. They have been about wanting to maximize every single day in the field and making sure that happens. The chips will fall how the chips will fall.”
And truth be told, the comments make a lot more sense than Minnesota being in a big hurry to trade the quarterback they once viewed as their franchise guy.
How They Started in the First Place
The moment Murray signed in Minnesota three months ago, a McCarthy trade rumor mill grew legs, at least little ones. Because NFL media and fans lack patience for a quarterback’s development, they interpreted Murray’s signing as a cue that McCarthy could be on the way out.
Instead, the Vikings’ brass has said every step of the way that it still believes in McCarthy and is willing to be patient with his maturation.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy participates in his first NFL preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders at U.S. Bank Stadium. In August 2024, McCarthy made his highly anticipated debut before suffering a season-ending meniscus injury, delaying his development until returning to claim Minnesota’s starting quarterback role in 2025. Mandatory Credit: YouTubeThe wildcard is McCarthy’s mindset. If he expressed discontent — telling the Vikings he wanted to be traded — their hands could be tied. Last week, McCarthy spoke to reporters and compared Murray’s arrival and his role on the team as “two guys in high school” on the other side of the room. Those comments only intensified the trade fodder, and here we are.
Just Keep the Murray + McCarthy Setup
In 2025, the Vikings faced a critical decision regarding their quarterback. They had several options: Sam Darnold, who had just led them to a 14-3 season before a late-season collapse; Daniel Jones, a potential challenger for the starting role; or the tempting veteran, Aaron Rodgers. Alternatively, they could have opted for a more gradual approach with McCarthy, allowing him a gentle transition into his first year as a starter.
The Vikings bypassed all these possibilities. They committed solely to McCarthy, hoping for the best. The gamble proved unsuccessful. Minnesota missed the playoffs, McCarthy failed to establish himself as the long-term solution, and by February 2026, the team was still without a solid answer at quarterback.
That’s when Murray’s arrival became a game-changer. He provides the Vikings with something they lacked last year: a genuine backup plan. While McCarthy can still earn the starting job, so can Murray. Minnesota no longer has to stake its entire season on the development of a single young quarterback.
With both players, the likelihood of securing a stable QB1 appears quite higher than it did during last year’s all-in bet on McCarthy.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) exchanges congratulations with head coach Kevin O’Connell after a made field goal against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. On Dec. 14, 2025, in Arlington, Texas, McCarthy and O’Connell shared a moment on the sideline as Minnesota battled for positioning during the season’s final stretch. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn ImagesESPN’s Kevin Seifert noted last week from OTAs, “Murray made all of the best throws of the practice, demonstrating his downfield touch and accuracy. Nothing McCarthy did was objectionable, and one of his few incompletions — a pass to the flat that cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. nearly intercepted — occurred when two receivers drifted far too close to each other.”
“And while McCarthy’s post-practice comments about their relationship delivered headlines, it was Murray who might have said the most notable four words of the afternoon: ‘My confidence is unshakeable.'”
As an Endgame, Which Teams Might Want McCarthy
Pretend momentarily that McCarthy does fuss and demand a trade. If that happened this summer, he might be looking at a shortlist like this of suitors:
- Arizona Cardinals
- Cleveland Browns
- Indianapolis Colts
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Miami Dolphins
- New York Jets
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ironically, the Cardinals — Murray’s former employer — might make the most sense if Arizona cannot resolve its current and befuddling holdout ordeal with Jacoby Brissett.
Sportsnaut‘s Andrew Buller-Russ noted on the Steelers as a McCarthy trade destination last week, “The Pittsburgh Steelers have a 42-year-old starting quarterback. Eventually, they need to plan for a future after Aaron Rodgers.”
“The Steelers do have a pair of developmental options in 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard, plus third-round rookie Drew Allar. Between the two, there could be a future starter in there, but adding a former first-round pick with a winning pedigree can’t hurt either.”
On the whole, though, expect the Vikings to keep McCarthy. There is no real upside to trading him, especially since two of the last three Vikings seasons have been sullied by quarterback injuries. Minnesota needs the quarterback depth.