JJ McCarthy’s path in Minnesota has taken a sharp turn, and now the trade chatter is already circling.
After losing the Vikings’ starting job to Kyler Murray, McCarthy finds himself in a backup role, even though he has made it clear he wants to stay in Minnesota. He has spoken about his love for the team, the fans, and the state. Still, new general manager Nolan Teasley has the final say, and he has no prior ties to the young quarterback.
That uncertainty is what opened the door for a new proposal from Chris Spiering of ClutchPoints, who floated a deal that would send McCarthy to the Los Angeles Chargers. The idea is simple, and Spiering made the case this way: “The Chargers shouldn’t offer anything more.
McCarthy and Lance are both former first-round selections whose NFL careers haven’t unfolded as originally expected. Lance has settled into the backup role behind Herbert, while McCarthy could now find himself in a similar position behind Murray,” Spiering wrote.
“If Minnesota is committed to keeping McCarthy, this conversation never even begins. But what happens if McCarthy asks for a trade?
That’s where things become interesting.” That’s where things become interesting.”
There’s a clean football logic to the move. The Chargers would not have to give up much, and McCarthy would not be threatening Justin Herbert’s job.
Instead, he could land in a spot where time under Jim Harbaugh might help him rebuild confidence and sharpen his game. Harbaugh and McCarthy already have history, having won a national championship together in early 2024.
That connection is the hook here. Harbaugh knows McCarthy’s strengths and limitations, and a return to that system could offer the kind of development Minnesota has struggled to provide.
McCarthy’s 2025 season didn’t live up to the expectations that came with his 2024 first-round selection. Injuries and uneven play left the opening for Murray, and the veteran took it during training camp. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell has said McCarthy will stay the backup and keep getting meaningful practice reps, and the team still believes he has a future in purple.
McCarthy has continued to say Minnesota is where he wants to be. But once a first-round quarterback falls down the depth chart, the trade speculation tends to come fast and stay loud. Low-cost reclamation projects with upside always draw interest, and the Chargers make sense on paper because of the Harbaugh connection.
Whether Minnesota actually entertains the idea is another matter. For now, the conversation is out there, and McCarthy’s next chapter may be closer than anyone expected.
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