The New York Giants have their quarterback addition in former Minnesota Vikings starter J.J. McCarthy in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round pick, per multiple reports.
McCarthy, who lost out on the Vikings' quarterback job in the offseason to Kyler Murray, will get a fresh start with New York and John Harbaugh after the Giants lost Jaxson Dart to an injury for the rest of the regular season at least. Now, McCarthy will play for his second Harbaugh brother after starting for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan.
The Vikings now get an opportunity to move on from the 2024 first-round quarterback whose future looked bleak in Minnesota after falling to third on the depth chart behind Murray and journeyman backup Carson Wentz.
Who won this trade? Are there really
any winners in a deal like this? Let's break it all down.
Full terms: #Vikings receive 2027 5th-round pick and Giants receive QB JJ McCarthy. https://t.co/VXN7DPeaRf
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 28, 2026
Giants grade
Even before Jameis Winston looking like a career backup on Sunday in a rainy win against the Tennessee Titans, it made sense why the Giants would try to add another quarterback to the room. The team hiring John Harbaugh as its head coach didn't signal a rebuild, so having more quarterback insurance to stay competitive after losing Dart to injury made sense. Is McCarthy really the best bet? He struggled mightily in Minnesota in one of the most quarterback-friendly offenses in the NFL; just look at how Wentz played in the first two weeks of the season in relief of Murray. For McCarthy, this is a huge lifeline to keep his NFL career afloat. He knows the Harbaughs well, and this Matt Nagy/Greg Roman offense is perfectly tailored to his skillset. The real question is, as it always is with these moves, will he see the field? Could McCarthy actually push Winston for starting reps? If he does and plays well, then John Harbaugh will reap the rewards like his brother Jim did with the Wolverines. If McCarthy doesn't pan out and his limitations follow him to a new franchise, the Giants may regret sending that fifth to Minnesota over going with a free agent like Jimmy Garoppolo or a cheaper trade option (say, a sixth or a seventh rounder for a backup QB). For now, we'll give New York credit for making an understandable move, even if we're curious what the overall ceiling is.
GRADE: B
Vikings grade
The Vikings had to get this done. McCarthy had no future in Minneapolis, and getting a fifth in return is solid business. Minnesota giving Murray the job and Wentz primary backup duties has fueled the team's 3-0 start. McCarthy wasn't seeing the field unless disaster struck. While it's difficult to admit defeat on your 2024 first-round quarterback, that's what responsible franchises do if things really aren't working out. New general manager Nolan Teasley wasn't part of the McCarthy decision; it was just his job to trade him away for decent value. The Vikings absolutely got that in a fifth rounder that could be higher up in the order if the losses pile up for New York. Minnesota can put its "9" era behind them for good while still getting a solid draft pick back. Not bad.
GRADE: B+
This article originally appeared on For The Win: J.J. McCarthy trade grades: Who won the Giants-Vikings QB deal?
