J.J. McCarthy Trade: Giants Acquire Vikings QB After Jaxson Dart Injury

J.J. McCarthy Trade: Giants Acquire Vikings QB After Jaxson Dart Injury

The New York Giants have acquired quarterback J.J. McCarthy from the Minnesota Vikings in a trade that has quickly become one of the major NFL stories of September 2026. New York is sending Minnesota a 2027 fifth-round draft pick for McCarthy, according to the Giants and Vikings. The Giants announced that the trade is pending McCarthy passing a physical.

The move comes shortly after Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart suffered a knee injury that is expected to keep him out for the remainder of the 2026 regular season.

Why the Giants traded for J.J. McCarthy

The Giants needed additional quarterback depth following Dart's injury. Jameis Winston started for New York in the team's Week 3 victory over the Tennessee Titans. NFL.com reported that Winston remains the Giants' starter following the McCarthy trade.

McCarthy therefore joins the Giants without an immediate announcement that he has replaced Winston as QB1. The trade gives New York another quarterback option while Dart is unavailable and adds a former first-round pick to the team's quarterback room.

What the Vikings received

Minnesota is receiving a 2027 fifth-round draft pick in exchange for McCarthy. Both teams reported the same basic trade terms, with the transaction subject to McCarthy passing his physical.

The Vikings selected McCarthy 10th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft after his national championship season at Michigan.

McCarthy missed his entire rookie season after undergoing knee surgery. He later became Minnesota's starting quarterback during the 2025 season but was limited by injuries and eventually lost the starting competition in 2026.

J.J. McCarthy's NFL record so far

McCarthy has appeared in 10 NFL games as a starter, compiling a 6-4 record with 1,632 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, according to Reuters and other reporting.

His NFL career has also been affected by injuries. He missed his entire rookie campaign because of the knee injury and later dealt with additional injury issues during his first full season of NFL action.

In Minnesota's 2026 quarterback competition, Kyler Murray was named the starter, while Carson Wentz moved ahead of McCarthy on the depth chart. McCarthy was inactive for two of the Vikings' first three games of the 2026 season, according to UPI.

Why McCarthy became available

McCarthy's move to New York followed a change in Minnesota's quarterback situation. The Vikings had added Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz to their quarterback group, leaving McCarthy further down the depth chart. The Vikings subsequently agreed to trade him to the Giants.

For McCarthy, the Giants move provides a different team environment after a relatively short NFL career in Minnesota. The trade also reunites McCarthy with John Harbaugh, who is now the Giants' head coach. McCarthy played college football at Michigan under John's brother, Jim Harbaugh.

What happens next for the Giants?

For now, the Giants' quarterback situation includes Winston as the announced starter and McCarthy as a new addition to the roster. NFL.com reported that Winston remains QB1 following the trade.

The Giants are scheduled to host the Arizona Cardinals in Week 4, while the Vikings are scheduled to face the Miami Dolphins.

McCarthy's arrival will therefore add another storyline to the Giants' quarterback room, but the immediate starting decision remains with Winston unless the team announces a change.