Giants trade for Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy with Jaxson Dart ruled out for season

The New York Giants have acquired quarterback JJ McCarthy from the Minnesota Vikings for a 2027 fifth-round pick.

The Vikings announced the trade on Monday pending McCarthy passing a physical.

The Giants made the aggressive move days after Jaxson Dart had surgery on his left knee that will sideline him for at least the rest of the regular season.

Jameis Winston started and led the Giants to victory over Tennessee on Sunday, but the team failed to score a touchdown and had just 238 yards of offense. Coach John Harbaugh said after the game – and before the McCarthy trade was announced – that Winston would start again this Sunday against Arizona.

It’s unclear what New York’s QB situation will be moving forward after adding McCarthy. He was the 10th pick in the 2024 draft but lost the starting job in Minnesota to Kyler Murray and fell behind Carson Wentz on the depth chart. McCarthy’s career in Minnesota will go down as a failure. He was hampered by poor form, injuries and perceived immaturity during his time with the Vikings. He played just 10 games for the Vikings and so far McCarthy has thrown more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (11) in the NFL.

However, at the age of 23 he still has plenty of time to develop and he led Michigan to a national title as a college quarterback. His coach at Michigan was John Harbaugh’s brother, Jim.