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.
In Other News...
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For Edmonton, the challenge may be less about interest than about price. If Detroits internal valuation of DeBrincat is anywhere near the sentiment coming from its fan base, the Red Wings would likely need a much stronger package to even consider moving him. That creates a familiar trade-board problem for the Oilers and any other suitor, because the gap between what a team is willing to offer and what Detroit believes DeBrincat is worth could be the difference between a serious negotiation and a nonstarter. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Front Office Search Hints At A Bigger Reset
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The move fits a broader moment for the Red Wings, who remain in the middle of trying to build something more sustainable while keeping pace in a tough division. Around the league, cap pressure and contract negotiations are forcing teams to make careful long-term calls, and Detroit appears to be approaching its own off-ice decisions with that same kind of urgency. The next hire will not just matter for the front office chart - it could shape how the franchise resets the way it evaluates talent, priorities, and the next phase of its rebuild. [Read more 🡒]
Moritz Seider Just Strengthened His Case As Detroits Next Franchise Leader
Moritz Seider added another major line to his resume this week, earning The Hockey News Rod Langway Award as the NHLs best defensive defenseman for the 2025-26 season. It is another reminder of how central he has become to the Red Wings, with Seider logging all 82 games, skating more than 25 minutes a night and taking on top competition all season long.
For Detroit, the honor only sharpens the conversation around where Seiders rise leads next. He is already being viewed as the kind of player who can anchor a blue line for years, and the bigger picture now includes a possible Norris Trophy down the road and, eventually, the possibility that he wears the captains C for the Red Wings. [Read more 🡒]