Vikings Trade J.J. McCarthy to Giants, Turn Toward 2027 QB Decision

Minnesota shipped out its 2024 first-round pick for a fifth-rounder on Sept. 28, leaving a one-year Kyler Murray deal and a deep 2027 draft class as the main paths forward.

The Minnesota Vikings traded quarterback J.J. McCarthy to the New York Giants on Sept. 28, ending a two-plus-year stay that fell well short of first-round expectations. Minnesota received a fifth-round pick in the deal. The Giants needed help at the position after Jaxson Dart sustained a knee injury that ended his season.

McCarthy, 23, entered the league as the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Michigan. He made 10 starts over two-plus seasons, with injuries and uneven play keeping him from approaching the production Sam Darnold delivered before him. After failing to win the backup job in training camp, he opened the season listed third at quarterback behind Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz.

For the current season, the trade changes little in Minnesota. McCarthy was not in line to play unless both Murray and Wentz went down with injuries. The Vikings are 3-0 and lead the NFC North despite being without their starting quarterback for most of the season so far.

Murray is the cleanest solution to the longer-term question, though nothing is settled. The 29-year-old plays on a one-year contract and cannot be franchise-tagged in 2027, so extending the relationship would require interest from both sides. His early outings in a new offense have not been encouraging, but at his best he offers a dual-threat blend of speed, athleticism and arm strength.

If Murray is not the answer, free agency offers limited help. The 2027 class lacks a clear quarterback target, which could push Minnesota toward another veteran pickup in the mold of Darnold and Murray. The options include Anthony Richardson of Indianapolis, who received permission from the Colts to seek a trade this past offseason and pairs notable physical tools with injury concerns. Davis Mills handled starting duty in Houston when C.J. Stroud missed time in 2025, Mac Jones showed some upside during Brock Purdy's 2025 absence after working in Kyle Shanahan's offense in San Francisco, and Arizona veteran Jacoby Brissett represents the fallback option whose future with the Cardinals could depend on whether the team drafts a quarterback.

The draft looks like the fuller path. Minnesota owns its 2027 first-round pick, and the class could carry as many as seven quarterbacks with first-round grades. Arch Manning, Darian Mensah and Dante Moore are expected to be out of the Vikings' range.

Further down the board, the possibilities multiply. Trinidad Chambliss is regarded by many as the best player in college football, with size the main knock against him. CJ Carr and Julian Sayin play for powerhouse programs and should face top-tier competition late in the season. Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker has already drawn attention by leading an upset of Oregon and then a road win over West Virginia two weeks later, and he fits the prototype frame teams seek.

The bottom line for Minnesota is a reset at the game's most important position. The organization accepted that the McCarthy pick did not pan out and collected modest compensation to move on. With Murray on an expiring arrangement and draft picks in hand, including the fifth-rounder acquired from New York, the Vikings are positioned to take another swing next spring.