J.J. McCarthy’s path in Minnesota has already gotten complicated, and the Vikings may not need much convincing if a trade opportunity comes along.
The 23-year-old quarterback entered the league as the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but injuries have slowed his rollout and his on-field production has not matched the investment. When he did get on the field, the results were uneven: McCarthy completed 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards, with 11 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a 72.6 passer rating.
That’s a tough sell for a team that already watched him lose the starting job to Kyler Murray and then fall behind Carson Wentz in the race for the backup role. If Minnesota decides to move on early, there are at least three teams that could make sense as landing spots.
Atlanta stands out first. Tua Tagovailoa was named the Falcons’ starting quarterback, but an oblique injury kept him out of Week 1 and he is doubtful for Week 2.
Michael Penix Jr., the backup, has already been ruled out against the Panthers with a knee injury. That forced Cooper Rush into action against the Steelers, and the results were rough: Rush went 12 of 22 for 143 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Atlanta managed only four passing first downs and Rush was sacked four times for a loss of 25 yards.
Tagovailoa and Penix both bring intrigue when healthy, but the article makes clear neither can be counted on to handle a full season. Rush, meanwhile, has not led a team to a win as a starter since he left the Cowboys after the 2024 NFL season.
McCarthy would give Atlanta a younger option and a higher floor behind center, and he could even serve as an inactive emergency quarterback on game day if both Tagovailoa and Penix are available. The cost, according to the report, would likely be a mid-to-low-round draft pick.
Cleveland is another possibility, even if the quarterback situation there is already a mess. Deshaun Watson is drawing boos, while the Browns have also used draft picks on Shadeur Sanders, Taylen Green and Dillon Gabriel. Gabriel is on injured reserve with a back injury, Sanders made the Pro Bowl last year and is the direct backup to Watson, and Green is a sixth-round pick being developed as an emergency third quarterback.
In that setup, McCarthy would jump into a battle with Sanders for the backup job. That would give Cleveland time to let Gabriel heal on injured reserve while possibly shifting Green to the practice squad. The article is blunt about Watson’s situation, saying the franchise needs to try almost anything to find a quarterback who can win a game, something Watson has not done since Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season.
The Jets also appear on the list. Geno Smith got off to a strong start in Week 1, completing 19 of 24 passes for 215 yards and leading New York to a 23-10 win over the Titans. Behind him is Cade Klubnik, a rookie taken in the fourth round of April’s draft, and the piece suggests he may need more time before he is ready for live action.
That creates a potential opening for McCarthy to compete for the backup role right away and eventually position himself to take over when Smith’s contract expires at the end of the 2026 NFL season. He could also function as a bridge while Klubnik develops, and the Jets could even add another quarterback to the mix. With 10 picks in the 2027 NFL Draft, including three first-rounders, New York has the draft capital to make a small deal worth exploring.
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