J.J. McCarthy quarterback Minnesota Vikings
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MINNEAPOLIS, 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)
The Minnesota Vikings‘ quarterback situation in 2026 looks about as uncertain as anything in the NFL at this point in time.
The team could bring in a high-end backup, a more high-ceiling QB to compete with J.J. McCarthy for the starting job, or a player to straight up come in and take the QB1 job in and of itself.
Now up until this point, most have projected the Vikings to add a player in the first or the second category – someone to provide insurance for and potentially compete for the starting spot with McCarthy.
But speaking on NFL Daily, Gregg Rosenthal and Bill Barnwell posit that Minnesota could potentially enter into option number three. In their proposal, the Vikings trade away J.J. McCarthy to the San Francisco 49ers and recoup their current QB2, Mac Jones.
“I’m a fan but I think Mac Jones knows he has a good situation in San Francisco. To me he only makes sense in very specific situations.” Rosenthal said to Barnwell on the NFL Daily podcast. “Now Minnesota is the one that would make the most sense for both sides.”
Barnwell responds by posing the question as to whether Rosenthal would hypothetically send McCarthy back in a trade for Jones, and states that he even believes the Vikings could have to give up additional draft compensation in order to land the former New England Patriots first round pick.
“I think the Vikings would be giving up the extra pick along with JJ,” Barnwell claims, and then when asked by Rosenthal which side would say no to a 1:1 McCarthy for Jones swap, Barnwell responds, “I do think it’s the Niners who say no. I do. And that seems impossible but I think it’s true.”
Would a Mac Jones For J.J. McCarthy Trade Make Sense?
On the face of it, this move would rock the NFL. For one thing, it would be the Vikings giving up on their 10th overall pick after just 10 starts, which would be the fewest since the 49ers traded Trey Lance to the Dallas Cowboys after just four starts back in 2023.
But McCarthy’s tape has not been good this past season. In fact, his only two legitimately good performances on the year came against the Cowboys and Commanders, who finished as the 30th and worst (32nd) ranked total defenses in 2025.
Jones presents very high floor and reasonably stout ceiling for head coach Kevin O’Connell, acting as a weaker armed yet less reckless version of former QB and now-Super Bowl champion, Sam Darnold.
Could the Vikings Justify Trading McCarthy This Early?
The optics of moving off McCarthy would not be great, especially for a man widely proclaimed to one of the league’s foremost quarterback whisperers in O’Connell.
But with a new general manager set to be hired post-draft, starting afresh with a proven quarterback who has succeeded in another Shanahan/McVay tree-style offense in Jones could be the most prudent move for Minnesota.
As for the other side, the 49ers would likely be open to moving off Jones – who has just one year left on his current deal – and getting an ex-top 10 pick in McCarthy, with head coach Kyle Shanahan having an opportunity to mould the talented former National Champion as a backup for the next couple of years.
If the Vikings threw in an early day three pick in 2026 or 2027, that could certainly be enough to tip the scales to get the move done.