The Minnesota Vikings have a J.J. McCarthy problem.
After letting Sam Darnold walk in 2025, they must decide if they truly believe in McCarthy ahead of 2026. There are a multitude of options out there for the purple team.
Kyler Murray and Kirk Cousins lead the rumors, while Aaron Rodgers and Derek Carr aren’t far behind. What many people haven’t talked about to this point is the possibility of the Vikings offloading McCarthy altogether.
That is, until now.
Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy Named Trade Candidate
GettyARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 14: J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings takes the field prior to a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Yahoo! Sports senior reporter Charles Robinson recently shared some prominent names to watch that could be on the move this offseason. You may recognize the final name he listed off.
“..throw in some young players who might get a call or two just to see if they are available on the trade market, including Buffalo Bills wideout Keon Coleman, Jacksonville Jaguars wideout Brian Thomas Jr., Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson and Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy.”
Robinson even added to the buzz about a potential union between Aaron Rodgers and the Vikings.
“The future of Aaron Rodgers will be a pressing question for the Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s possible we exit the combine under the presumption that the Steelers are going to move forward and try to find their future QB, which would shift the Rodgers conversation back to the Vikings, whom he was interested in before landing in Pittsburgh last offseason.”
It’s logical to think that if Minnesota signed an older QB like Cousins or Rodgers, they’d hang on to McCarthy. That way, he can still technically be your long-term plan. However, a trade for a younger option like Kyler Murray could increase the chance that McCarthy gets dealt elsewhere for draft capital.
Certainly, the J.J. McCarthy situation is one that the entire NFL landscape is keeping an eye on.
Will Kevin O’Connell Risk His Job for J.J. McCarthy?
GettyMINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – JANUARY 04: J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
It’s understandable to think that Kevin O’Connell can’t trust J.J. McCarthy with his job. However, it can also be argued that this wasn’t a decision that’s being made in 2026. The bulk of decision was made in 2024, and emphasized in 2025.
Kevin O’Connell was involved with the acquisition of J.J. McCarthy in the 2024 NFL Draft. When a head coach puts his stamp of approval on drafting a QB in the top 10 in their third year of coaching, they are likely tying their job to the prospect.
This is speculation, but it’s also justifiable to believe he had some say in choosing McCarthy over Darnold in 2025 after Darnold’s huge 2024. The game has changed a little with the firing of the man that hired O’Connell in Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, but don’t be surprised if Minnesota triples down on McCarthy in 2026.
Brevan Bane Brevan Bane is a sports scribe covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Minnesota Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals. Brevan began his writing career by making a platform on Twitter and leveraging his presence into writing and content creation opportunities for outlets like PurplePTSD, Vikings Territory, The Noise, Hockey Wilderness, and the VikesNow YouTube channel. You can follow him on X @brevmanbane. More about Brevan Bane
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