With Kyler Murray set to start this season, J.J. McCarthy suddenly finds himself in a very different spot in Minnesota. The Vikings have their quarterback, and the third-year Michigan product is now the one left on the outside looking in.
That shift was always going to spark questions about McCarthy’s future. He still hasn’t had the kind of breakout stretch that would lock down his place long term. His first season was wiped out by injury, and last season he appeared in 10 games, throwing for 1,632 yards and 11 touchdowns against 12 interceptions.
From there, the conversation turns to what comes next. In a FanSided feature, Mark Powell laid out possible trade destinations for McCarthy, and he didn’t exactly frame Minnesota as a place where McCarthy is trending upward. “There are plenty of Vikings who should benefit from more stable QB play, but McCarthy is not one of them,” he says in the piece.
One of the spots Powell floated was Cleveland. The Browns are already sorting through their own quarterback situation, with veteran Deshaun Watson and second-year player Shedeur Sanders in the mix.
Powell’s proposed deal would send McCarthy and a 2027 seventh-round pick to Cleveland, while Minnesota would receive quarterback Dillon Gabriel and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
He also pointed out the complication that comes with a Browns roster already crowded with young passers. “A Browns trade for McCarthy is complicated by the number of young quarterbacks already on the roster,” he states in the piece. “Deshaun Watson seems likely to start Week 1 for Cleveland, although Todd Monken has yet to make that official.”
Powell added another wrinkle, noting, “Shedeur Sanders could be up for grabs if the Vikings wish to make this trade more interesting, but they already have Carson Wentz as a reliable backup should they deal McCarthy elsewhere.”
It’s a trade concept with some appeal on paper, but Cleveland may be too locked in on its own Watson-Sanders situation to take on another quarterback decision right now.
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Hamp pointed to the clubs improved depth, especially up front on the offensive line, as one reason optimism feels warranted beyond just another good year. The goal now is to top last seasons 9-8 finish, and while the Lions are still chasing bigger-picture contention, the message from ownership is unmistakable: this is no longer a team satisfied with incremental progress as the 2026 season comes into view. [Read more 🡒]