{"id":984624,"date":"2026-08-27T13:36:28","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T13:36:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/984624\/"},"modified":"2026-08-27T13:36:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T13:36:28","slug":"5-j-j-mccarthy-trade-packages-minnesota-vikings-could-consider","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/984624\/","title":{"rendered":"5 J.J. McCarthy Trade Packages Minnesota Vikings Could Consider"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s becoming increasingly clear that not only has J.J. McCarthy<\/a> had his title as the Minnesota Vikings<\/a>\u2018 franchise quarterback stripped, but he\u2019s also in increased danger of losing QB2 duties to Carson Wentz<\/a>. The Vikings also have 2025 undrafted signee Max Brosmer on the roster, whom they remain optimistic<\/a> about. That\u2019s four quarterbacks, which is just one too many. <\/p>\n

Of course, Brosmer seems like a prime candidate for the practice squad in that he likely wouldn\u2019t be rostered by another team all season long. Yet, if McCarthy does slip to QB3, more<\/a> and more reports<\/a> suggest he\u2019d then prefer to take his chances at climbing the depth chart elsewhere, with another NFL team.<\/p>\n

If so, the Vikings may feel pressured to consider trade offers for the 23-year-old whom they made the 10th overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Even though McCarthy is still under contract through 2027, both sides could reach the determination that it\u2019s best to move on. <\/p>\n

All NFL rosters must be trimmed down to 53 players by Sunday, Aug. 30. As new general manager Nolan Teasley slices and dices his way through the roster, one decision he may have to make is pulling the trigger on the best trade offer for McCarthy. That\u2019s what this exercise attempts to tackle. <\/p>\n

Related: Minnesota Vikings\u2019 New Front Office Now \u2018Questioning\u2019 Caleb Banks Draft Pick<\/a><\/p>\n

Indianapolis Colts Trade Anthony Richardson + 2027 7th for J.J. McCarthy<\/p>\n

\"NFL:5<\/a>Nov 3, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) warms up before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Screw it. At this point, if Anthony Richardson<\/a> can\u2019t win the Indianapolis Colts<\/a>\u2018 backup QB job, and McCarthy can\u2019t win the backup job in Minnesota, then maybe it\u2019s time for both to get a fresh start under a new coaching staff. Still just 24 years old, Richardson has started only 15 games since becoming the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. But now he\u2019s entering the final year of his contract. In this scenario, coach Kevin O\u2019Connell, who issued praise on Richardson in the past, gets a year to work with Richardson before the QB\u2019s contract lapses. But who knows, they both may decide to continue the partnership once the offseason arrives, knowing they could need each other in the near future. <\/p>\n

Related: 4 Haason Reddick Landing Spots After NFL Rumors Ignite<\/a><\/p>\n

Baltimore Ravens Trade 2027 5th + 2028 6th for McCarthy<\/p>\n

\"NFL:5<\/a>Aug 22, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O\u2019Connell and Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter talk after the game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

As Michigan\u2019s defensive coordinator from 2022 to 2023, new Baltimore Ravens<\/a> head coach Jesse Minter got a first-hand experience of what it\u2019s like to go up against McCarthy. They also helped each other get a championship ring in college. While the Ravens are committed to two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson<\/a> as their franchise quarterback, he\u2019s only under contract through 2027 and has been reluctant to sign an extension. Consider McCarthy a short-term insurance policy who the head coach knows won\u2019t bring any negative energy to his situation as a backup in development. The question here is what it would mean for Tyler Huntley and undrafted rookie free agent Joe Fagnano, but McCarthy has more potential than both. <\/p>\n

Related: Minnesota Vikings Could Look to Replace All-Pro With Undrafted Rookie<\/a><\/p>\n

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Trade Anthony Nelson + 2028 Fourth-Round Pick for McCarthy<\/p>\n

\"J.J.5<\/a>Aug 22, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) looks to throw a pass against the Baltimore Ravens during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

With Baker Mayfield<\/a> entering a contract year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a> may be eager to start evaluating other quarterbacks while gauging their current starter\u2019s eventual price point. Even if Mayfield intends to hit the open market when the offseason arrives, the Bucs would likely just franchise tag him before letting him walk free. That gives them two years to work with Mayfield, while also evaluating whether someone like McCarthy could eventually supplant him. He\u2019d still be just 25 years old when the 2028 offseason arrives, but he too would be set for free agency at that point. Meanwhile, the Vikings don\u2019t get a strong immediate return, but being able to secure a 2028 fourth-round pick is likely better than anything they expect to receive. Adding a 6-foot-7 outside linebacker like Anthony Nelson is just the cherry on top. The 29-year-old former Super Bowl champ has 107 games of experience, including seven sacks, an interception, and three forced fumbles across the past two seasons. Yet, to get a fourth-round pick, the Vikings would likely have to send a sixth or even a fifth-round pick back to Tampa Bay. <\/p>\n

Related: Kyler Murray Has \u2018Really, Really Surprised\u2019 Justin Jefferson<\/a><\/p>\n

Denver Broncos Trade Alex Forsyth + 2027 Fifth-Round Pick for McCarthy<\/p>\n

\"NFL:5<\/a>Aug 21, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton during the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers of a preseason game at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The Denver Broncos<\/a> still haven\u2019t settled their backup quarterback situation. For now, it appears like Sam Ehlinger, a 2021 sixth-round pick, will win the job over Jarrett Stidham. Neither has as high a ceiling as the 23-year-old McCarthy. While it may be a bit awkward for the Broncos to have McCarthy and Bo Nix<\/a>, two first-round picks from the same 2024 NFL Draft class, in the same QB room, their competitiveness could help get the best out of each other. Plus, Sean Payton and company undoubtedly did just as much homework on Nix as they did for McCarthy two offseasons ago; for all we know, the decision was close. Now they can get both. As for the Vikings, with Blake Brandel\u2019s snapping being a bit shaky<\/a> as of late, they add Alex Forsyth, a 27-year-old backup center who has played 34 games with six starts in the past two seasons plus a fifth-round pick as draft compensation. <\/p>\n

Related: 5 Minnesota Vikings Bold Predictions for Friday\u2019s Preseason Finale<\/a><\/p>\n

Los Angeles Chargers Trade Bud Dupree + 2027 Sixth-Round Pick for McCarthy<\/p>\n

\"Michigan5<\/a>Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh talks to quarterback J.J. McCarthy before the start of the Rose Bowl vs. Alabama in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. Credit: USA Today<\/p>\n

After winning a championship together at Michigan, both McCarthy and coach Jim Harbaugh are now in the NFL. Only Harbaugh is coaching the Los Angeles Chargers<\/a>, who already have franchise quarterback Justin Herbert<\/a>. Yet, the Chargers are still searching for Herbert\u2019s backup<\/a>. Harbaugh already believes in McCarthy as a person; does he think he can get the job done as an NFL QB too? It may be worth trading a sixth-round pick plus backup pass-rusher Bud Dupree just to find out. The Vikings are hunting for a third edge rusher, so the 33-year-old would be a welcome addition, even if he recorded just two sacks last season. The hope is he can come closer to his production in Atlanta in 2023 or in Tennessee in 2024, when he recorded 6.5 and six sacks per season.<\/p>\n

Related: Updated Minnesota Vikings Roster Projection After Preseason Week 2, Including Practice Squad Candidates<\/a><\/p>\n

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\t\tDedicated NFL copywriter\/editor. My work has been found on Sportsnaut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports … More about Andrew Buller-Russ<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s becoming increasingly clear that not only has J.J. McCarthy had his title as the Minnesota Vikings\u2018 franchise…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":984625,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2073],"tags":[117,258,7,392,1519,262,233,259,2529,6,250,234],"class_list":["post-984624","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-minnesota-vikings","tag-baltimore-ravens","tag-denver-broncos","tag-football","tag-indianapolis-colts","tag-j-j-mccarthy","tag-los-angeles-chargers","tag-minnesota","tag-minnesota-vikings","tag-minnesotavikings","tag-nfl","tag-tampa-bay-buccaneers","tag-vikings"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/117167744079743610","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/984624","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=984624"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/984624\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/984625"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=984624"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=984624"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=984624"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}