ESPN Throws Cold Water on Vikings Trade Idea
The Minnesota Vikings added quarterback Kyler Murray to their roster in March, and in the fallout of that move, some have claimed that last year’s QB1, J.J. McCarthy, could be a theoretical trade candidate. While that might make sense to an outsider, ESPN claimed this week that a McCarthy trade doesn’t quite add up.
McCarthy’s rookie contract still gives Minnesota a reason to stay patient.
Minnesota has full team control over McCarthy for three more seasons, and there’s a chance that he puts it all together before too long.
The Vikings Still Control McCarthy’s Timeline
Dial back your McCarthy trade takes. They’re premature.
ESPN on McCarthy
ESPN’s Dan Graziano took on the NFL’s “10 lingering offseason questions” this week, and among them, he discussed why McCarthy had not been traded.
He wrote, “It doesn’t make a lot of sense to trade him. The Vikings have already paid 70% of McCarthy’s rookie contract. There’s no way they could get anything in return that remotely approaches what they spent in terms of draft capital to acquire him in the first place. They’re less than a year removed from believing he could be their starter, not just now but for years to come.”
“And it’s not like Murray is some automatic fix, either. He has had one fully healthy season in the past five, and the Cardinals are paying him almost $36 million this year to play for another team. People I’ve talked to who are close to this situation insist that the Vikings haven’t given up on McCarthy — that part of their hope is bringing in Murray sends some sort of shock to McCarthy’s system and gets him refocused on whatever they think he got away from last year.”
McCarthy banked 15 total touchdowns and 12 interceptions last season in 10 starts.
Graziano continued, “It’s probably a long shot, but again, there doesn’t seem to be much they would gain from trading him at this point. Murray is signed for one year, and his deal prohibits the Vikings from franchise-tagging him next offseason.”
“There’s a world in which Minnesota gets to the end of this season believing that McCarthy has figured some things out and can still be what it thought he would be. If not, maybe then the Vikings cut bait. But there’s no reason to do it now.”
A Puncher’s Chance to Take Down McCarthy
McCarthy could outright win the Vikings’ quarterback competition this summer at training camp. That’s how serious the team is about him, almost debunking trade rumors by itself. Most believe that Murray will prevail in the battle, but Murray will get his shot nevertheless.
It’s also worth noting that Murray has played in 76% of his eligible games since 2019. He usually misses a few games here and there during a given season. In that scenario, Minnesota would need a quarterback to salvage the season, and McCarthy might be the perfect guy for the job.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell took over the Vikings in 2022, and since then, two of his four seasons have been derailed by quarterback injuries. O’Connell likely won’t willingly offload his quarterback depth via trade. He’s seen firsthand that a team can cycle through four quarterbacks in a single season. It’s more evidence to keep McCarthy.
Some QBs Figure It Out
Listen, McCarthy just turned 23. Of course, he didn’t blast off as a starter in 2025, but that doesn’t mean his career is doomed. There are examples all over the place of quarterbacks turning the corner at age 23 or later, and in fact, Sam Darnold forged the path in — check notes — Minnesota two years ago.
Sometimes, quarterbacks who are entering Year No. 3, like McCarthy, just develop and mature. There’s no reason to think McCarthy is incapable of this.
Perhaps McCarthy’s naysayers are too cynical.
The Injury Bug
On the other hand, McCarthy’s NFL injury resume is real — and strange. Since joining the Vikings in 2024, he’s battled these ailments:
- Torn Meniscus (Missed Games: 17)
- High Ankle Sprain (Missed Games: 5)
- Concussion (Missed Games: 1)
- Broken Hand Bone (Missed Games: 1)
Percentage of games missed = 73%.
One of the drawing factors for teams during the 2024 draft was his durability. He did not have an extensive injury history in high school or college. But he arrived to the big leagues and began rolling out a laundry list of problems.
It’s for that reason — “can’t make the club in the tub” — that Minnesota needed a strong QB1 alternative. That’s Murray.
If McCarthy is traded, that may be a 2027 offseason talker, not 2026.
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