Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy greets Washington Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore following a sport at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. The postgame interplay occurred on Dec. 7, 2025, in Minneapolis as gamers from each groups exchanged phrases and respect after the Vikings and Commanders accomplished their regular-season matchup. Obligatory Credit score: Brad Rempel-Imagn Photos
Among the world simply can’t appear to abdomen that the Minnesota Vikings would have two QB1 choices in 2026, evidenced once more final week by a commerce concept from Fansided that claimed third-year passer J.J. McCarthy must be shipped to the Arizona Cardinals.
Minnesota signed Kyler Murray in March, and he’s on faucet to duel McCarthy in August for the Vikings’ high job. In keeping with Wynston Wilcox, the Vikings could be greatest served to commerce McCarthy to Arizona.
Why the Cardinals Commerce Idea Falls Quick
Arizona Cardinals helmets relaxation alongside the sideline earlier than a street sport in opposition to the Carolina Panthers at Financial institution of America Stadium. On Dec. 22, 2024, the Cardinals ready for a late-season matchup because the franchise continued evaluating its roster and future path. The workforce entered the competition looking for momentum earlier than the offseason. Obligatory Credit score: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Photos.
Fansided: Vikings Ought to Commerce McCarthy to Cardinals
Wilcox claimed Saturday that Minnesota ought to swap McCarthy for a Fifth- and Seventh-Spherical choose with the Cardinals and lean absolutely into the Murray experiment.
He argued, “The writing is on the wall; Kyler Murray is the new quarterback in town, and the Minnesota Vikings even brought Carson Wentz back too. That should tell J.J. McCarthy everything he needs to know about his job security in Minnesota.”
“The only good thing about McCarthy staying in Minnesota for now is that both Murray and Wentz are injury-prone; outside of that, he’s as good as traded already. I feel like only the New York Jets would be foolish enough to take a crazy gamble on a quarterback like McCarthy, but the Cardinals also make sense for a couple of reasons.”
McCarthy ended 2025 on a excessive word, rating because the NFL’s sixth-best passer per EPA+CPOE from Week 14 to Week 18.
Wilcox continued, “For one, if Jacoby Brissett doesn’t get his contract situation resolved, Arizona could use this as an opportunity to find another young passer to try and develop. The Cardinals have a lot of holes to patch on this team, and wasting a high pick on a quarterback is a risk that isn’t necessarily worth it in my opinion. That’s why they ultimately get away with a fifth-round and seventh-round pick here.”
“Because of Murray and Wentz’s injury history, I could see the Vikings waiting to trade McCarthy. That said, if he survives Week 1, his value could skyrocket if a team desperately needs a quarterback good enough to start in the interim.”
McCarthy’s Would-Be Outlook in Arizona
Let’s simply be clear right here: McCarthy would take over Murray’s previous workforce, together with its weapons and protection. First-time head coach Mike LaFleur is operating the present, and on offense, McCarthy would expertise these playmakers:
Jeremiyah Love
Trey McBride
Marvin Harrison Jr.
Michael Wilson
Kendrick Bourne
Tyler Allgeier
James Conner
Trey Benson
On protection, effectively, that’s a unique story. The Cardinals have ranked as follows on protection per EPA/Rating over the past 5 years:
2025: 26th2024: 24th2023: 31st2022: 20th2021: Fifth
If the Fansided concept got here true, McCarthy would take pleasure in fairly respectable offensive weapons, a in all probability poor or common protection, and an offensive line that ranked twenty sixth leaguewide per PFF final yr. Not supreme.
The Murray Former Employer Irony
There’s some apparent irony right here — the Vikings simply acquired Murray, who quarterbacked the Cardinals for seven seasons. For now, McCarthy and Murray are on faucet to battle for Minnesota’s QB1 job at coaching camp, even when Murray is the heavy favourite to prevail.
Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray runs for a landing in opposition to the Chicago Bears throughout first-quarter motion at Soldier Area. On Dec. 5, 2021, Murray showcased his trademark mobility and playmaking skill whereas main the Cardinals offense in Chicago. The twin-threat quarterback remained one of many league’s most harmful runners on the place. Obligatory Credit score: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Minnesota signed Murray in March for $1.3 million — that low cost as a result of Arizona paid him to get the hell out of city. After just a few hours of suspense, Murray shortly signed with the Vikings, his childhood favourite workforce, and later defined that enjoying for head coach Kevin O’Connell, a recognized quarterback whisperer, was a no brainer.
If Wilcox will get his manner, Murray and McCarthy will swap jobs with out an official one-for-one swap.
After all, McCarthy must combat Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew, and Carson Beck for the QB1 job.
Vikings Ought to Simply Preserve McCarthy
The Vikings have lastly created choices for themselves, a stark distinction to their predicament in 2025. Again then, Minnesota made McCarthy their singular plan: the first technique and even the emergency exit early within the 2025 offseason. They bypassed alternatives to retain Sam Darnold after a 14-3 season, deliver again Daniel Jones, and even discover Aaron Rodgers.
As an alternative of progressively integrating McCarthy, they instantly handed him the beginning position and accepted the implications. Whereas McCarthy confirmed flashes of potential, he didn’t absolutely blossom, and the Vikings consequently missed the playoffs. By February, the workforce acknowledged the necessity for an additional resolution at quarterback.
That resolution arrived within the type of Murray. Murray’s presence doesn’t assure flawless quarterback play — no participant does. Nevertheless, his arrival basically alters the workforce’s dynamic. The Vikings are not compelled to speculate all their hopes in a single younger quarterback to succeed immediately.
They possess two official paths ahead.
Minnesota quarterback J.J. McCarthy participates in pregame drills earlier than going through the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. On Dec. 21, 2025, McCarthy ready for an additional alternative to steer the Vikings offense throughout his first season because the starter. The younger quarterback remained beneath the highlight coming into the matchup. Obligatory Credit score: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Photos.
That is exactly why buying and selling McCarthy could be illogical. He stays younger and reasonably priced sufficient to retain whereas the quarterback scenario evolves. Contemplating that quarterback accidents have derailed two of the final three Vikings seasons, discarding a viable quarterback possibility at this stage would introduce pointless threat. Wilcox’s Fifth and Seventh-Rounder is plainly not value it. These are throwaway draft picks.
Minnesota spent a yr experiencing the repercussions of a too-narrow quarterback technique. Now, they lastly have respiratory room. Don’t squander it on a wierd commerce with the Cardinals. McCarthy’s full story isn’t written but, and the Vikings can management his contract for 3 extra seasons.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
