The Vikings may be looking to protect themselves if they decide to move on from J.J. McCarthy, and Jason La Canfora says one way to do that would be by demanding playing-time conditions in any return package.
That kind of structure would give Minnesota a chance to soften the blow if it trades away a former top-10 pick. It would also fit the reality the Vikings are facing after letting Sam Darnold leave for nothing, a decision they are clearly aware of as they weigh their next move.
La Canfora’s reporting suggests other front offices have believed for some time that McCarthy is unlikely to stay in Minnesota for long, especially after he lost the starting job to Kyler Murray. His standing as the backup is not settled either, with an ankle sprain late in the preseason escalating from a minor issue to what was described as a “multi-week injury.”
Kevin O’Connell has kept saying publicly that he wants to keep working with McCarthy, but the situation around the quarterback has drawn plenty of scrutiny. There have been persistent rumors that former GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was more invested in drafting McCarthy than O’Connell was, and the coach addressed that directly at one point this month.
The contract picture adds another layer. Murray is only signed for this season and has a no-tag clause, while McCarthy has one more year left on his rookie deal in 2027. If Minnesota did trade McCarthy, the return would be nowhere near the No. 10 overall pick it used on him in the 2024 draft - La Canfora suggested a fourth-rounder at best.
There is also the possibility that McCarthy could want out himself and push for a trade in search of a fresh start.
McCarthy is 23 and comes with a résumé that includes leading Michigan to the 2023 national championship and earning first-team All-Big Ten honors. Minnesota drafted him No. 10 overall and signed him to a four-year, $21,854,796 contract that included a $12,714,396 signing bonus and a fifth-year option for 2028.
In 2025, McCarthy played in 10 games for the Vikings and completed 57.6 percent of his passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also ran for 181 yards and four scores.
In Other News...
Vikings Lose Tight End Depth At Worst Possible Time
The Vikings trimmed and shifted the bottom of the roster as they settled into the early stretch of the 2026 season, placing tight end Ben Yurosek on injured reserve and releasing safety Kahlef Hailassie from the practice squad. Yuroseks absence is not expected to be long-term, but it still leaves Minnesota thinner at a spot that matters when teams start sorting out special teams roles, blocking packages and the backup plan behind the top of the depth chart.
For now, Minnesota will lean on its veteran pairing of T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver to handle the tight end load while it waits to see when Yurosek can return. The hope inside the building is that he can be back later in the season, but the timing is less than ideal for a team trying to keep its offense and supporting pieces steady right out of the gate. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings May Have Found Demond Claibornes Fastest Path To The Field
The Vikings didnt use a premium pick on Demond Claiborne, but they may have given him a clearer route to playing time anyway. Drafted in the sixth round, the rookie running back enters a crowded backfield behind veterans Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason, so Minnesota has been looking for ways to make his speed matter right away. His preseason work has only strengthened the idea that he can help sooner rather than later.
Kick return duties could be the quickest way for Claiborne to get on the field, and that would fit the kind of multi-purpose value teams want from a late-round pick. The Vikings are still sorting out how he might fit into the offense as well, but special teams offers an immediate opening and a chance to turn his explosiveness into something more tangible while he waits for a bigger role in the backfield. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Tomlin Could Reenter Vikings Picture If Pressure Keeps Building
Mike Tomlins name can still linger around the Vikings whenever the conversation turns to bigger possibilities. After parting ways with the Steelers following last season, Tomlin moved into an analyst role for NBCs Sunday Night Football, but he has also made clear that a return to coaching is something he would consider again, even if only for a select few teams.
Minnesota is one of the places that fits the conversation because Tomlin once served as the Vikings defensive coordinator in 2006. If pressure around the current head coach continues to build, the idea of a familiar, proven voice resurfacing in the market is the kind of scenario that cant be ignored, even if any real move remains well down the road. [Read more 🡒]