Broncos Floated as Weird J.J. McCarthy Trade Fit
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy hasn’t even fully begun his competition with Kyler Murray, and the world has already lined up new employers for him, including trade ideas to the Arizona Cardinals and New York Jets, among others. Now, one podcast host believes McCarthy would fit well in Denver.
The Broncos clearly have a QB1 in Bo Nix, but David Marshall’s theory suggests McCarthy could play QB2 in Denver rather than in Minnesota.
Minnesota Has No Reason to Rush a McCarthy Trade to DEN or Anywhere
Marshall: McCarthy to DEN Makes Sense
Marshall advanced the idea on the David Talks Broncos show last week: “McCarthy was kind of a disaster last year after his time at Michigan. You could see here at Michigan, National Champion, he’s got all the traits and tools you’re looking for, and you saw here during his time in the NFL.”
“He tore his ACL in 2024, so he didn’t get a lot of time to actually improve his game. He played in a pro-style offense under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, and I think he’s got the brains to operate this offense with Sean Payton and Davis Webb.”
Denver’s QB2 at the moment is Jarrett Stidham, who started in the AFC Championship in January.
Marshall added, “He needs to fine-tune his mechanics, his footwork, and that’s where the Broncos do some of their best work. I think J.J. McCarthy in terms of not looking at him as a franchise quarterback because we’ve got that in Bo Nix, but as that franchise backup. That next guy that can be here for a few years.”
Why … Would McCarthy Leave QB2 Job in MIN for QB2 Job in DEN?
The idea from Marshall is predicated on McCarthy leaving the friendly confines of Minnesota — presumably as Murray’s backup — for Denver to presumably become Nix’s backup.
Immediately, the question becomes: Why on earth would he want that? McCarthy departing the Vikings in 2026 would probably have to come from his trade request, and it would be strange for him to sign off on a deal that shipped him to the Broncos. If McCarthy wants a real shot at QB1 action, he should either remain in Minnesota to see if Murray shows progress or force his way to a team like the Cardinals or Jets that realistically need a QB1 for the future.
Preferring Denver to Minnesota — swapping QB2 assignments for QB2 assignments — just doesn’t make sense for the 23-year-old.
Too Early for a Trade
Kevin O’Connell said in 2024 that organizations fail young quarterbacks before young quarterbacks fail organizations. Well, here we are.
If the Vikings were to trade McCarthy now, especially after selecting him as their franchise quarterback just two years ago, it would directly contradict their head coach’s previous warnings. The move would be particularly puzzling given the widespread enthusiasm for McCarthy as the team’s future in April 2024.
Discarding him before he has had a fair chance to develop seems premature. McCarthy’s professional career has faced significant hurdles. His early entry into the league, a rookie-year injury that led to benching, and a rocky 2025 performance all contributed to his inconsistent start.
Even if the Vikings believe Murray offers a better immediate solution for the 2026 season, it doesn’t necessitate McCarthy’s immediate departure.
Quarterback development is a lengthy process, and teams that rush it often regret their decisions. The Jets with Sam Darnold and the Cleveland Browns with Baker Mayfield serve as cautionary tales; both teams moved on too quickly, only to see those players succeed elsewhere. Minnesota risks falling into a similar trap.
The Vikings aren’t obligated to declare McCarthy a superstar today; their priority should be avoiding a shortsighted decision.
Trading him now would essentially invite another franchise to “fix McCarthy.” Should another coach successfully develop him into a star, the Vikings would spend the next decade justifying how a 23-year-old former 1st-Round pick was let go without a development plan. You might recall the Vikings casting Darnold off last offseason and him winning a Super Bowl 11 months later.
Trade Price?
Pretend for a moment that McCarthy indeed requests a trade later this summer, possibly after losing the competition to Murray. Now might be the best time to sell, as the Vikings could realistically grab a mid-round pick. At worst, McCarthy would fetch a 5th-Rounder.
On the whole, the likelihood of McCarthy leaving the Vikings is low. The team needs all the quarterback depth it can find after injuries to its quarterbacks killed the 2023 and 2025 campaigns.
But there’s always a chance that McCarthy personally asks for a change of scenery, and per Marshall, the Broncos shouldn’t be ruled out.
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