The Minnesota Vikings are currently down bad after choosing JJ McCarthy over their 2024 Pro Bowl quarterback, Sam Darnold. The Vikings decided to let Darnold go in free agency instead of re-signing him and opted to go with their first-round quarterback to take the starting job for 2025.
The 2025 season is over, and it is clear to everyone the Vikings made a terrible mistake. Darnold continued his success with the Seattle Seahawks and helped lead them to a Super Bowl championship. McCarthy struggled to stay on the field due to injuries, and when he was on the field he struggled there as well.
Letting Darnold walk was a mistake, and it’s quite possible that drafting McCarthy was as well. The Vikings should look to ship him off to a quarterback-needy team while he has some value and go in another direction. That is why the Minnesota Vikings will trade JJ McCarthy to the New York Jets.
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JJ McCarthy Traded to the New York Jets
McCarthy was drafted 10th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft that is now looking like one of the best quarterback classes to come through in a bit. Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and Michael Penix Jr were all drafted inside the top 10, while Bo Nix was drafted just behind McCarthy with the 12th overall pick. Four of those quarterbacks have cemented themselves as playoff quarterbacks and bright futures for their organizations.
Penix has had his ups and downs, but looks like a promising piece for Atlanta. Which leaves McCarthy as the current bust of the group.
McCarthy has had just four fewer starts than Penix, but the statistics and eye test for McCarthy just are not there. Doesn’t mean it will never be, but the Vikings are built to win now and can not wait for the former Michigan quarterback to figure it out.Â
A team that has the time and the draft assets to build around a young quarterback is the New York Jets. The Jets have young pieces for McCarthy to grow and help them down the road as they figure it out. The Jets sold a lot of their young pieces and may be selling running back Breece Hall here soon. They do still have several young pieces to build around and be ready to compete in a couple of years.
What Would a Trade Package Look Like?
The Jets have two picks in the first and second round of the 2026 NFL Draft and three first-round picks in 2027. The Jets may be able to get McCarthy without parting ways with any of those. A second-round pick and change could be enough to get the deal done.
The Jets should not look to sell the farm for McCarthy, however he will not be cheap. A second-round pick with the number of first-round picks they have over the next two years should be an okay risk for them to take.
As for the Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback situation. They should look at the pieces they get in return to make a trade for Mac Jones from the San Francisco 49ers. If both plans don’t work for either team, then they have the availability to draft their future in 2027, which is set to be a quarterback class of the ages with upwards of 10 quarterbacks capable of being first-round talent.
A low-risk trade for either team with a contingency plan for the 2027 NFL Draft. The Vikings don’t seem confident in JJ McCarthy moving forward. Vikings need wins now, and that is why they will trade him to the New York Jets.
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