J.J. McCarthy
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Bleacher Report's Moe Morton proposed the Minnesota Vikings trade J.J. McCarthy to the Arizona Cardinals.
The Minnesota Vikings didn’t have to trade for quarterback Kyler Murray. The Arizona Cardinals released the two-time Pro Bowler, who the Vikings signed in free agency. But with one J.J. McCarthy trade idea, the two quarterbacks could still trade places.
On a list of surprising trades that could still happen this offseason, Moton proposed the Vikings send McCarthy to the Cardinals.
“In the best-case scenario for McCarthy, he would go to a team that allows him to battle for the starting job. The Arizona Cardinals have journeymen Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew II atop their quarterback depth chart,” wrote Moton.
“In Arizona, McCarthy can learn from Brissett and Minshew while competing against them. The Cardinals would have a developmental signal-caller with room for growth and no obligation to start him right away.”
McCarthy led the Vikings to a 6-4 record as a starter last season. But he severely struggled, completing just 57.6% of his passes while throwing more interceptions than touchdowns. He also averaged 6.7 yards per throw.
That’s McCarthy’s only NFL action in the regular season. The quarterback missed his rookie season because of an ACL injury.
With Murray in the fold next season, pundits do not expect McCarthy to start, barring an injury to Murray, in 2026.
“Once the Cardinals released Murray, he had several suitors. Choosing Minnesota signaled a degree of devotion from Murray,” Alec Lewis of The Athletic wrote Friday. “In other words, he isn’t joining up with O’Connell, superstar receiver Justin Jefferson and the Vikings to sit and watch.”