Not much has gone to plan when it comes to the quarterback position in recent years for either of the Minnesota Vikings or the New York Giants. The Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy 10th overall in 2024 to be their franchise signal caller. The Michigan product was just traded to New York, though, as the Giants were looking for another quarterback because of Jaxson Dart's inability to stay healthy. The fellow former first-round QB will miss the rest of the regular season because of a knee injury suffered in Week 2. This was just one of many early-career injuries for the former Ole Miss player.
The Giants gave up a 2027 fifth-round pick to acquire the QB reclamation project, who is now officially labeled a bust. So, how did these two teams grade out for this deal?
The Vikings officially give up on J.J. McCarthy
When the Vikings drafted McCarthy in the first round, he was fresh off a national championship run at Michigan and was considered one of the best quarterbacks in one of the most loaded QB classes ever. In fact, McCarthy was one of six gunslingers taken within the first 32 picks of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels are currently dealing with injuries, but they've had some incredible moments, including a 59-point Week 1 performance for Williams, a player who entered the league as one of the most highly touted prospects ever. Daniels was named the Rookie of the Year after an incredible first season. The 2024 class also has Drake Maye, who finished second in MVP voting and led the New England Patriots to the Super Bowl last year, as well as Bo Nix, a player who just keeps finding ways to win ball games.
Michael Penix Jr. even had an impressive 2026 debut in Week 3. McCarthy, meanwhile, is already confirmed as a draft bust. A meniscus injury kept him out of his rookie season, and McCarthy struggled mightily in year two. He wasn't able to get Justin Jefferson involved last year, and not even Kevin O'Connell's play-calling expertise could make the QB look proficient. Then, heading into his third season, McCarthy lost a quarterback competition to Kyler Murray that basically confirmed that his time in Minnesota was over after just 10 starts, 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
At this point, the player nicknamed “nine” was more of a distraction than a contributor to Minnesota's plans. Murray helped the Vikings become one of just four 3-0 teams in Week 3. Even when he missed time, Carson Wentz shined and proved he should be the backup over McCarthy.
Even so, giving up on a top-10 pick after just over two seasons and 10 starts hurts in a big way. Admitting a mistake was made is never easy for NFL teams, but it was the right course of action for the Vikings here. They were able to get a fifth-round pick back for the quarterback, and considering it was unlikely McCarthy would ever be given another chance in Minnesota, that was pretty could value for the Vikings.
Grade: B
The Giants add a QB project
Coming into the year, a major priority for the Giants was ensuring their quarterback would stay out of harm's way. Dart displayed immense potential as a rookie, but he also frequently put his body at risk and suffered injuries. However, Dart's Week 2 injury was not his fault.
The Giants prepared themselves for a situation where Dart would have to miss time before the season, as they gave Jameis Winston a contract extension just before the start of the regular season under the premise that he is one of the best backup QBs in football. However, losing Dart for the entire regular season mid-way through his second game of the year was definitely not in their plans.
With Jake Haener as the only other quarterback on the roster, the Giants felt they had to trade for more depth at the position, especially considering Winston's high-risk, high-reward nature. At first glance, McCarthy doesn't seem like the best option to save New York's season if Winston missed time and he were thrust into action.
However, there is some upside to this trade. It wasn't that long ago that McCarthy was a first-round pick, and he is still just 23 years old, meaning there is still plenty of potential in McCarthy's skill set. Plus, as a former first-rounder, there is a fifth-year option on the quarterback's contract. The Giants have the option to have a cheap, developmental project on a rookie deal for this year plus two more seasons to come. Considering Dart's injury history, that is a positive, even though the Ole Miss player still is the future of the franchise.
The Giants only gave up a fifth-round pick. Although that isn't nothing, this can still be viewed as a low-risk, high-reward trade. A change of scenery can do McCarthy well, and the Giants needed QB depth in one shape or another.
Grade: C+