J.J. McCarthy trade: Giants pay 2027 pick in bold QB gamble

The New York Giants acquired quarterback J.J. McCarthy from the Minnesota Vikings earlier this week for a 2027 fifth-round draft pick, according to Yahoo Sports. The J.J. McCarthy trade gives New York another option at the position after starter Jaxson Dart injured his knee in Week 2 and was ruled out for the rest of the regular season.

McCarthy is not expected to play Sunday, Oct. 4, when the Giants host the Arizona Cardinals at MetLife Stadium, but Yahoo Sports reported there is reason to believe he could start for New York at some point this season.

Terms of the J.J. McCarthy trade

New York sent a 2027 fifth-round pick to Minnesota to land McCarthy, per Yahoo Sports. No other players or picks were reported as part of the deal.

What it means for the Giants

Veteran Jameis Winston has taken over as the starter in Dart’s place. He started Sunday against the Tennessee Titans and helped New York grind out a 12-7 win, according to Yahoo Sports.

Former Giants quarterback Russell Wilson, now an analyst on CBS Sports’ “Set Hut,” called the J.J. McCarthy trade “interesting” and said it could be a “great” spot for McCarthy to restart his career while learning behind Winston, according to CBS Sports.

“I think this will help J.J., too. I’m sure Jameis is going to give some of that advice,” Wilson said. He also credited Giants coach John Harbaugh for adding “a guy that he knows is a competitor, a high draft pick.”

Former Pro Bowl guard Kyle Long also liked the fit. “Look, they need him, and he needs them, so I think it’s a good situation for him,” Long said, according to CBS Sports.

Giants tight end Isaiah Likely said the locker room is still getting to know its new quarterback. “I didn’t know much about J.J.,” Likely said, according to Yahoo Sports. “Obviously know that he was drafted high, winning quarterback, won when he was at Michigan. Tough runner, tough player, and I’ve seen him a little bit during a team meeting.”

Likely added that he is trying to pass along the same things to McCarthy that he discusses with Winston, whether on the field, in the film room or in the hallway.

What it means for the Vikings

Minnesota moves on from McCarthy after Kyler Murray won the starting job, leaving the former first-round pick without a clear path to the field in 2026, per CBS Sports. The J.J. McCarthy trade brings back a modest return for a quarterback who started 10 games for the Vikings in 2025.

McCarthy’s background before the trade

McCarthy’s rookie season in 2024 ended before it began because of a knee injury. He became the starter in 2025 after Sam Darnold left for the Seattle Seahawks, but injuries limited him to 10 starts. He went 6-4 in those games, completing 57.6 percent of his passes for 1,632 yards with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, according to CBS Sports.

Before reaching the NFL, McCarthy led Michigan to a national championship under Jim Harbaugh. Minnesota drafted him in the first round in 2024.

For more on the Giants’ roster moves this week, see how the team released Odell Beckham Jr., and catch up on the latest from around the league in our NFL news section.

What’s next

The Giants host the Cardinals on Sunday with Winston expected to remain the starter, so the payoff from the J.J. McCarthy trade may not be clear for weeks. Dart’s timeline for a return from knee surgery has not been announced.

Reporting from Yahoo Sports and CBS Sports contributed to this story.