Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy warmed up earlier than kickoff at MetLife Stadium as Minnesota accomplished pregame routines earlier than a late-season street matchup. On December 21, 2025, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, McCarthy labored via timing drills and footwork whereas the Vikings finalized offensive preparations inside a busy street stadium earlier than kickoff. Obligatory Credit score: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Photographs.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy hasn’t even totally begun his competitors with Kyler Murray, and the world has already lined up new employers for him, together with commerce concepts to the Arizona Cardinals and New York Jets, amongst others. Now, one podcast host believes McCarthy would match nicely in Denver.
The Broncos clearly have a QB1 in Bo Nix, however David Marshall’s idea suggests McCarthy might play QB2 in Denver somewhat than in Minnesota.
Minnesota Has No Cause to Rush a McCarthy Commerce to DEN or Wherever
A Denver Broncos helmet sat close to the sphere at Empower Area at Mile Excessive earlier than Denver confronted the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in a late-season AFC West matchup. On January 5, 2025, in Denver, the helmet of defensive finish John Franklin-Myers offered a clear pregame visible earlier than kickoff as each groups completed last discipline work. Obligatory Credit score: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Photographs.
Marshall: McCarthy to DEN Makes Sense
Marshall superior the concept on the David Talks Broncos present final week: “McCarthy was kind of a disaster last year after his time at Michigan. You could see here at Michigan, National Champion, he’s got all the traits and tools you’re looking for, and you saw here during his time in the NFL.”
“He tore his ACL in 2024, so he didn’t get a lot of time to actually improve his game. He played in a pro-style offense under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, and I think he’s got the brains to operate this offense with Sean Payton and Davis Webb.”
Denver’s QB2 for the time being is Jarrett Stidham, who began within the AFC Championship in January.
Marshall added, “He needs to fine-tune his mechanics, his footwork, and that’s where the Broncos do some of their best work. I think J.J. McCarthy in terms of not looking at him as a franchise quarterback because we’ve got that in Bo Nix, but as that franchise backup. That next guy that can be here for a few years.”
Why … Would McCarthy Go away QB2 Job in MIN for QB2 Job in DEN?
The concept from Marshall relies on McCarthy leaving the pleasant confines of Minnesota — presumably as Murray’s backup — for Denver to presumably grow to be Nix’s backup.
Instantly, the query turns into: Why on earth would he need that? McCarthy departing the Vikings in 2026 would in all probability have to return from his commerce request, and it will be unusual for him to log off on a deal that shipped him to the Broncos. If McCarthy desires an actual shot at QB1 motion, he ought to both stay in Minnesota to see if Murray reveals progress or drive his approach to a crew just like the Cardinals or Jets that realistically want a QB1 for the long run.
Preferring Denver to Minnesota — swapping QB2 assignments for QB2 assignments — simply doesn’t make sense for the 23-year-old.
Too Early for a Commerce
Kevin O’Connell mentioned in 2024 that organizations fail younger quarterbacks earlier than younger quarterbacks fail organizations. Effectively, right here we’re.
If the Vikings have been to commerce McCarthy now, particularly after choosing him as their franchise quarterback simply two years in the past, it will immediately contradict their head coach’s earlier warnings. The transfer can be significantly puzzling given the widespread enthusiasm for McCarthy because the crew’s future in April 2024.
Discarding him earlier than he has had a good likelihood to develop appears untimely. McCarthy’s skilled profession has confronted vital hurdles. His early entry into the league, a rookie-year damage that led to benching, and a rocky 2025 efficiency all contributed to his inconsistent begin.
Even when the Vikings imagine Murray presents a greater instant resolution for the 2026 season, it doesn’t necessitate McCarthy’s instant departure.
Quarterback improvement is a prolonged course of, and groups that rush it usually remorse their choices. The Jets with Sam Darnold and the Cleveland Browns with Baker Mayfield function cautionary tales; each groups moved on too rapidly, solely to see these gamers succeed elsewhere. Minnesota dangers falling into the same entice.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy threw passes throughout pregame warm-ups at U.S. Financial institution Stadium as Minnesota ready for a matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. On October 19, 2025, in Minneapolis, McCarthy went via his routine throwing session whereas followers and media monitored the younger quarterback earlier than kickoff inside the house venue earlier than one other NFC take a look at. Obligatory Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Photographs.
The Vikings aren’t obligated to declare McCarthy a famous person in the present day; their precedence needs to be avoiding a shortsighted determination.
Buying and selling him now would primarily invite one other franchise to “fix McCarthy.” Ought to one other coach efficiently develop him right into a star, the Vikings would spend the following decade justifying how a 23-year-old former 1st-Spherical choose was let go and not using a improvement plan. You would possibly recall the Vikings casting Darnold off final offseason and him successful a Tremendous Bowl 11 months later.
Commerce Value?
Fake for a second that McCarthy certainly requests a commerce later this summer time, presumably after dropping the competitors to Murray. Now may be the most effective time to promote, because the Vikings might realistically seize a mid-round choose. At worst, McCarthy would fetch a Fifth-Rounder.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy dropped again and delivered a first-quarter throw at U.S. Financial institution Stadium as Minnesota confronted the Inexperienced Bay Packers. On January 4, 2026, in Minneapolis, McCarthy operated inside the construction of the offense whereas the Vikings sought early rhythm in a high-stakes divisional matchup in opposition to their longtime rival. Obligatory Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Photographs.
On the entire, the probability of McCarthy leaving the Vikings is low. The crew wants all of the quarterback depth it could discover after accidents to its quarterbacks killed the 2023 and 2025 campaigns.
However there’s all the time an opportunity that McCarthy personally asks for a change of surroundings, and per Marshall, the Broncos shouldn’t be dominated out.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
