JJ McCarthy NFL trade rumors
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
The Vikings kept J.J. McCarthy on the roster, avoiding $4.85 million in guarantees if cut.
He is now QB3 behind Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz, with trade talk continuing.
Background
The Vikings drafted McCarthy No. 10 overall in 2024, but injuries and inconsistent play (57.6% completion rate, 11 TDs vs. 12 INTs) kept him from locking down the starting job. Minnesota signed Kyler Murray in free agency, and he won the QB1 role last month. With Murray starting and veteran Carson Wentz as backup, McCarthy is now third on the depth chart, and reports suggest the team could still trade him before the November 10 deadline.
How it unfolded
- 2024Vikings select J.J. McCarthy No. 10 overall in the NFL Draft.
- Sep 3, 2026Report says Vikings could trade McCarthy before Week 1 vs. Packers, though his ankle injury lowers his trade value.
- Sep 8, 2026Bleacher Report's Alex Kay ranks McCarthy No. 1 among QBs most likely to be traded this fall.
- Sep 9, 2026Report reveals Vikings kept McCarthy partly because cutting him would have cost $4.85 million in guaranteed money; he is now QB3 behind Murray and Wentz.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- Some analysts, like Bleacher Report's Alex Kay, see McCarthy as the top trade candidate and expect the Vikings to move him during the season.
- Caution
- Others note that McCarthy's low trade value and ankle injury may make a deal difficult, and the Vikings have no intention of losing him for nothing.
- Official
- Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell has said Carson Wentz will be the backup and McCarthy will be the third quarterback, but has not ruled out a trade.
Still unverified
Trade rumors are based on reports from unnamed executives and analysts; no trade has been agreed upon. McCarthy's ankle injury status and its impact on his trade value are not fully confirmed.