With Jaxson Dart done for the rest of the regular season, the Giants are suddenly staring at a quarterback problem much earlier than anyone expected in Week 3. For John Harbaugh, who is trying to make his first real impression as New York’s new head coach, the timing could hardly be worse.
That has pushed the organization into a search for answers for the 2026-27 season, and one name that has surfaced is J.J. McCarthy.
McCarthy, who is with the Minnesota Vikings and not starting this season, has become part of the conversation as New York looks at possible options. But the buzz does not seem to be building toward an actual pursuit.
Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post made that clear on Wednesday, writing on X, "Never say never. But J.J. McCarthy is one available QB I cannot see #Giants pursuing."
Dan Duggan of The Athletic echoed that view in a feature published Thursday, saying he does not see McCarthy as a fit for the Giants. Duggan pointed to New York’s heavy scouting of McCarthy during the 2024 pre-draft process before the team selected wide receiver Malik Nabers with the sixth pick instead. As Duggan put it, "That type of pedigree sticks with a player, even when the start of his career has been as rocky as McCarthy's."
Duggan also noted that McCarthy is coming off a quarterback competition loss to Kyler Murray and is now third on the Vikings’ depth chart behind Carson Wentz. In his view, even a modest trade price would be too much, since "even parting with one of the 2027 sixth-rounders or a late-round pick in a future draft for McCarthy seems wasteful. He'd need to come in and learn a new offense on the fly during the season."
For now, the idea of McCarthy landing with the Giants does not look especially strong. It is still possible the situation changes, but right now the signs point the other way.
In Other News...
Twins Enter A Crucial Offseason With One Roster Weakness Looming
The Twins are heading into the offseason with more questions than answers after finishing 2026 below .500, and the front office has a pretty clear starting point for its winter work. The bullpen stands out as the biggest issue, especially with several key left-handed relief options set to hit free agency, leaving a hole that could affect the shape of the entire relief corps if it is not addressed quickly.
Catcher and first base also need attention, even if those spots are further down the priority list. Free-agent help looks limited, which means Minnesota may need to get creative through trades or complementary signings as it tries to rebuild a roster that has too many obvious gaps and not enough easy fixes. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Front Office Reset Just Took Another Significant Turn
The Twins front office makeover picked up another notch this week with the mutual parting of ways with assistant general manager Daniel Adler. Adler had been in the organization since 2017, when he was hired by former president of baseball operations Derek Falvey, and his exit comes as the club continues to reshape its leadership structure under general manager Jeremy Zoll.
Zoll is now expected to keep building out the department with new hires after a string of departures has changed the look of the operation. With Falvey already gone earlier this year and another longtime voice now out of the picture, the Twins are steadily moving into a new era in the front office. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Suddenly Have A Closing Debate They Cant Ignore
The Twins bullpen has been one of the seasons most revealing storylines, and not for the kind of stability clubs usually want at the back end of games. Minnesota set an American League record by turning to 15 different pitchers for saves, a sign of just how often the ninth inning has shifted from one arm to another. Jeff Hoffman became the latest name in that mix, but the larger picture is still centered on how the team has tried to piece together a reliable finish.
Yoendrys Gmez has been the most productive option overall, leading the club with 21 saves, though his season has been uneven enough to keep the debate alive. After a dominant stretch earlier in the year, he struggled in September, which is why the Twins are still weighing what the late-inning hierarchy should look like moving forward. Hoffmans emergence only adds another layer to a bullpen that has spent much of the season searching for a clear answer. [Read more 🡒]