The J.J. McCarthy Rumor Mill Takes a Chill Tablet

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) throws passes throughout pregame warmups earlier than a matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. On Oct. 19, 2025, in Minneapolis, McCarthy went by his routine throwing session as followers and media carefully monitored the younger quarterback forward of kickoff towards one of many NFC’s prime contenders. Obligatory Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Photos

Simply because the Minnesota Vikings look like on observe for a Kyler Murray season at QB1 doesn’t imply that J.J. McCarthy will probably be on the commerce block.

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 by the top of 2027 — and 2028 if it workouts his fifth-year possibility.

Vikings Ought to Hold the Two QBs within the Image

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) goes by warmups earlier than a preseason matchup towards the Houston Texans at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. On Aug. 9, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, McCarthy ready for one more alternative to steer Minnesota’s offense as anticipation continued to construct across the younger passer getting into his first season as QB1. Obligatory Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Photos

McCarthy Commerce Theories Dialed Again

Plugged into the Vikings greater than most, Lewis stated 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 fact be instructed, the feedback make much more sense than Minnesota being in an enormous hurry to commerce the quarterback they as soon as seen as their franchise man.

How They Began within the First Place

The second Murray signed in Minnesota three months in the past, a McCarthy commerce rumor mill grew legs, a minimum of little ones. As a result of NFL media and followers lack persistence for a quarterback’s improvement, they interpreted Murray’s signing as a cue that McCarthy could possibly be on the best way out.

As a substitute, the Vikings’ brass has stated each step of the best way that it nonetheless believes in McCarthy and is prepared to be affected person together with his maturation.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy participates in his first NFL preseason sport towards the Las Vegas Raiders at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. In August 2024, McCarthy made his extremely anticipated debut earlier than struggling a season-ending meniscus damage, delaying his improvement till returning to assert Minnesota’s beginning quarterback position in 2025. Obligatory Credit score: YouTube

The wildcard is McCarthy’s mindset. If he expressed discontent — telling the Vikings he needed to be traded — their fingers could possibly be tied. Final week, McCarthy spoke to reporters and in contrast Murray’s arrival and his position on the workforce as “two guys in high school” on the opposite facet of the room. These feedback solely intensified the commerce fodder, and right here we’re.

Simply Hold the Murray + McCarthy Setup

In 2025, the Vikings confronted a crucial resolution concerning their quarterback. They’d a number of choices: Sam Darnold, who had simply led them to a 14-3 season earlier than a late-season collapse; Daniel Jones, a possible challenger for the beginning position; or the tempting veteran, Aaron Rodgers. Alternatively, they might have opted for a extra gradual strategy with McCarthy, permitting him a delicate transition into his first yr as a starter.

The Vikings bypassed all these potentialities. They dedicated solely to McCarthy, hoping for one of the best. The gamble proved unsuccessful. Minnesota missed the playoffs, McCarthy failed to determine himself because the long-term resolution, and by February 2026, the workforce was nonetheless with no stable reply at quarterback.

That’s when Murray’s arrival grew to become a game-changer. He gives the Vikings with one thing they lacked final yr: a real backup plan. Whereas McCarthy can nonetheless earn the beginning job, so can Murray. Minnesota now not has to stake its complete season on the event of a single younger quarterback.

With each gamers, the chance of securing a steady QB1 seems fairly increased than it did throughout final yr’s all-in guess on McCarthy.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) exchanges congratulations with head coach Kevin O’Connell after a made discipline purpose towards the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. On Dec. 14, 2025, in Arlington, Texas, McCarthy and O’Connell shared a second on the sideline as Minnesota battled for positioning throughout the season’s ultimate stretch. Obligatory Credit score: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Photos

ESPN’s Kevin Seifert famous final 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 Groups Would possibly Need McCarthy

Fake momentarily that McCarthy does fuss and demand a commerce. If that occurred this summer time, he could be 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

Mockingly, the Cardinals — Murray’s former employer — would possibly take advantage of sense if Arizona can not resolve its present and befuddling holdout ordeal with Jacoby Brissett.

Sportsnaut‘s Andrew Buller-Russ famous on the Steelers as a McCarthy commerce vacation spot final 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 entire, although, anticipate the Vikings to maintain McCarthy. There isn’t any actual upside to buying and selling him, particularly since two of the final three Vikings seasons have been sullied by quarterback accidents. Minnesota wants the quarterback depth.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker