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...
Ohio State May Already Have Another Freshman Receiver Fans Need To Watch
Even with the Buckeyes already carrying the usual buzz around their receiver room, Chris Henry Jr. has become one of the early freshman names worth tracking as the program looks ahead to 2026. The profile around him is part of a broader look at five incoming wideouts around college football, but Henry stands out for Ohio State because the expectations are already high before he has played a snap in earnest.
Early practice impressions have only added to the attention, and the appeal here is obvious for Buckeyes fans who know how often Ohio State has turned receiver recruiting into an offensive advantage. Henry is projected to be part of a deeper wave of freshmen who could matter right away for their teams, and the next question is how quickly that promise turns into a defined role once the competition inside the room really starts to sort itself out. [Read more 🡒]
Arthur Smith Could Be Ryan Days Biggest Ohio State Win Yet
Ryan Days latest staff move gives Ohio State a new look on offense, and it comes at a moment when the Buckeyes are trying to keep their standard high after Brian Hartline left for South Florida. Day turned to Arthur Smith, the former Steelers offensive coordinator, to fill the vacancy, and Smiths arrival brings an NFL rsum and a different kind of credibility to a room that has long been central to Ohio States identity.
What makes the hire interesting is that Smith passed on other opportunities to take the job in Columbus, drawn by the chance to work with young players and make a broader impact. With returning starters in place, the Buckeyes now have a coordinator whose style could help push the offense forward, and the real question is how quickly Smith can translate that background into results in his first season in charge. [Read more 🡒]
Former Ohio State DE Adds To A Frustrating Transfer Pattern
Omari Abors path has become another reminder of how unpredictable the transfer market can be for former Ohio State players looking for a fresh start. After leaving the Buckeyes following the 2023 season, the former defensive end spent 2024 at SMU and finished with just two tackles, a brief stop for a player who arrived in college with plenty of pedigree and expectations.
Abor now appears on Akrons roster for 2026 after not playing in 2025, taking advantage of an NCAA eligibility extension in the process. For Ohio State, it adds one more entry to a long-running conversation about how often transfers find the roles they wanted after leaving Columbus, and how quickly a change of scenery can turn into another detour instead of a reset. [Read more 🡒]