NFL insider reveals chances Vikings trade QB JJ McCarthy

JJ McCarthy was considered the future franchise quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings but now might command trade value.

McCarthy suffered a knee injury during the preseason and was ruled out for the season. That made way for Sam Darnold, Minnesota’s original starter for 2024, to have a career year.

The Vikings are set to take on the Detroit Lions Sunday night, with the winner going to 15-2 and the No. 1 seed in the NFC. But McCarthy’s future with the franchise is certainly a talking point.

“Well, Sam Darnold is continuing to write a story, which goes on tonight in Detroit, and we’ll see how he fares tonight and in the postseason, but at some point in time, he’s showing enough to be their quarterback,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on Sunday NFL Countdown. “Which leads you to believe, will there be teams, and how many teams, check in with the Vikings to see whether the Vikings are open to dealing JJ McCarthy, who would be viewed as one of the top, if not the top quarterback in this year’s draft. 

“So really, teams will make calls, and the Vikings will have to figure out, is there an offer out there that’s rich enough to make us want to part ways or do we just keep riding  with him and Sam here on the same roster together?”

JJ McCarthy on the move?

McCarthy, 21, is one year removed from leading Michigan to a College Football Playoff National Championship victory over Washington. The Vikings selected him No. 10 overall in this past year’s NFL Draft, just over a month removed from signing Darnold to a one-year, $10 million deal in free agency.

The plan was clear: Play Darnold as a one-year stop gap before handing the reins to McCarthy. But then, McCarthy tore his meniscus in his right knee during the first preseason game. He underwent a second surgery in November to address swelling in the knee that developed after an increase in activity during the rehabilitation process. McCarthy is on track to return for the 2025 season.

While McCarthy has been rehabbing, Darnold has been playing the best ball of his career. A former first round pick in his own right, Darnold has thrown for 4,153 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions on 68.1% passing. Now, Darnold has a chance to cash in — but will the Vikings go all-in on the 27-year-old late bloomer?

That’s the question, one the Vikings will have to answer this offseason. And if Darnold leads the Vikings to their first Super Bowl victory, perhaps that makes the decision an easy one to make.

Nick Geddes contributed to this report