J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
Getty
J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings drops back to pass during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Vikings have a new quarterback in town. Kyler Murray, as many expected following his release from the Arizona Cardinals, signed a one-year deal with the franchise.
For Kevin O’Connell, Murray will likely become the team’s new starting quarterback. At this point in time, he’s going to compete with J.J. McCarthy for the job, but the overwhelming expectation is that Murray will win it when all is said and done.
Since the signing of Murray became official, the future of McCarthy has become a popular debate. There are some who believe that the Vikings could keep McCarthy and try to develop him. Others think that a trade could be coming in the near future.
Should Minnesota place McCarthy on the trade block, there would likely be a good amount of interest in him. He was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. So far to begin his NFL career, the young signal caller has missed a lot of time with injury.
Last season with the Vikings, McCarthy entered the year as the starter. He dealt with multiple injury issues and played in 10 total games, completing 57.6 percent of his passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. McCarthy also picked up 181 yards and scored four touchdowns on the ground.
With that being said, Minnesota could have a sneaky trade option if it chooses to move on from McCarthy.
The Vikings & Cardinals Could Come Together on a Trade
After choosing to move on from Murray, the Arizona Cardinals have a need for a long-term quarterback. In an ironic move, could they consider pursuing a trade for McCarthy.
It’s possible that the two teams could simply swap starting quarterbacks from the 2025 season.
Right now, the Cardinals are expected to start Jacoby Brissett as their starter in 2026. Brissett has proven himself to be a quality backup over the years, but he’s not a great starting option. At 33 years old, he also isn’t a long-term option.
McCarthy would immediately offer Arizona a better future outlook. The Cardinals could still start Brissett in 2026 with the goal of McCarthy being their future.
While it’s just an idea, it’s one that could make a lot of sense for both parties involved.
What Does Kyler Murray Bring to the Vikings?
Murray was originally the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by Arizona. He was expected to quickly become a superstar at the professional level.
To start of his career, Murray showed flashes of that potential. Unfortunately, he has been unable to turn those flashes into consistency.
At 28 years old, Murray could turn into the Vikings’ long-term starting quarterback. He has played in 87 games throughout his seven-year career and has proven himself capable of being a dynamic quarterback. Working with Kevin O’Connell could be exactly what he needs to take the next step.
In the 87 games he has played at the NFL level, Murray has completed 67.1 percent of his passes for 20,460 yards, 121 touchdowns, and 60 interceptions, while also recording 3,193 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns on the ground.
Minnesota seems to be in the process of moving on from McCarthy. Trading him to the Cardinals where he could become a franchise quarterback might be what’s best for all parties involved.