The Minnesota Vikings traded quarterback J.J. McCarthy to the New York Giants on Monday in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round draft pick. The move gives the Giants quarterback depth after starter Jaxson Dart suffered a season-ending knee injury, while ending McCarthy’s tenure in Minnesota after just 10 career starts.
The Giants Trade Terms and Roster Decisions
New York acquired the 2024 No. 10 overall pick in exchange for a future fifth-round selection in 2027. The agreement is pending a physical, per the Vikings. The trade is pending a physical, per the Vikings. To clear roster space, the Giants waived Haener and intend to bring him back on the practice squad. The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero was the first to report the trade. Ian Rapoport, Adam Schefter, and Mike Garafolo also reported the news. Following this transaction, New York has parted ways with Haener temporarily with plans to assign him to the practice squad. At a minimum, the plan appears to be for McCarthy to serve as Winston’s backup when the team faces the Arizona Cardinals in Week 4.
The deal comes following the news that starting quarterback Jaxson Dart will miss the rest of the regular season due to a torn meniscus and MCL suffered during the Week 2 defeat against the Los Angeles Rams. Dart’s injury required surgery with a recovery timeline of four to six months, meaning the earliest Dart could realistically return would be late in the playoffs, potentially the Super Bowl. New York added depth at quarterback after starter Jaxson Dart was ruled out for the regular season.
Following Dart’s injury, the Giants turned to veteran Jameis Winston as their starter and promoted Jake Haener to backup duties for their Week 3 victory over the Titans. Although New York secured their second victory of the year, Winston struggled mightily, as all 12 of the team’s points came courtesy of four field goals. Despite securing a 12-7 victory against the Tennessee Titans in Week 3 with Jameis Winston under center, the Giants’ offensive output remained largely stagnant.
How McCarthy Fared in Minnesota
McCarthy’s stint in Minnesota saw him make 10 starts in two-plus seasons, going 6-4 as a starter for his career. McCarthy missed seven games last season with a concussion, ankle and hand injuries. Across 10 games last year, his only appearances in a Minnesota jersey, McCarthy completed just 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Powered primarily by an elite defensive unit, the Vikings still managed to win six of those ten contests, a stretch that coincided with Justin Jefferson posting the lowest statistical production of his professional career. Minnesota cashed out on McCarthy after just 10 starts in which he struggled mightily with accuracy. Minnesota’s decision to part ways with the 23-year-old signal-caller was heavily foreshadowed in the offseason when the franchise pursued free agent Kyler Murray and brought back veteran Carson Wentz. During training camp, Minnesota afforded McCarthy a brief opportunity to compete for a starting role, but he was ultimately pushed out of the mix.
McCarthy had been serving as the third-string quarterback in Minnesota behind Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz. Early in training camp, McCarthy engaged in a battle for the Vikings’ starting quarterback position alongside Kyler Murray, but his standing dropped all the way to third string after Carson Wentz replaced Murray in Week 1 and earned the start in Week 2. The Vikings moved up to the No. 10 spot in the 2024 NFL Draft to draft McCarthy, fresh off a national championship at Michigan.
Reuniting With the Harbaugh Family in New York
Standing only in his third NFL season, the 23-year-old quarterback receives an opportunity for a fresh beginning through this transaction. The former Michigan Wolverine played for Jim Harbaugh in college and will now play for his brother, John Harbaugh, with the Giants. Given his background playing under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, McCarthy’s arrival with John Harbaugh’s Giants almost feels like a scripted narrative. Provided Jameis Winston fails to dramatically outperform expectations and spark a high-functioning passing game, McCarthy will likely earn an opportunity to start once he familiarizes himself with the playbook.
Having three former first-round draft picks currently on their roster puts the Giants in an exceptionally exclusive group. Only six other teams in the common draft era constructed their offenses in this manner. FOX 9 Sports Reporter Pierre Noujaim reacts to the news on All Day, while the Vikings announced Monday they are trading J.J. McCarthy to the New York Giants for a 2027 fifth-round pick.
