J.J. McCarthy Trade Floated by Familiar Source

Remember the guy last month who suggested that Mark and Zygi Wilf could sell the Minnesota Vikings because the franchise did not spend big in free agency? He’s Pioneer Press’s Charley Walters, and after that theory was instantly and utterly debunked, Walters now believes Minnesota could trade quarterback J.J. McCarthy this summer.

All signs point to McCarthy remaining in Minnesota this season, but Walters isn’t buying it.

Vikings’ QB Takes Keep Getting Stranger

J.J. McCarthy tosses a pass during a Vikings game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. — Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy drops back to pass during first-quarter action against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The young signal-caller helped guide Minnesota’s offense on Jan. 4, 2026, in Minneapolis as the Vikings sought to build momentum early during a pivotal NFC North showdown against their longtime rivals. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Walters: Vikings Could Trade McCarthy

Walters, no stranger to stirring the pot, got in his bag this weekend, writing about McCarthy and the Vikings’ quarterback situation, “It seems unlikely that Carson Wentz re-signed with the Vikings to be the third-string quarterback this season, or that Kyler Murray signed with the Vikings to be the second-string QB.”

“Curiously, a few weeks ago, during the rookie mini-camp, the Vikings brought in former Dallas-Baltimore QB Cooper Rush for a tryout. Remember, it was Rush who five years ago — subbing for injured Cowboys starter Dak Prescott in a Sunday night game in Minneapolis — passed for 325 yards and two second-half TDs to lead Dallas to a 20-16 victory.”

The Vikings often have veteran quarterbacks on speed dial — like Rush — with Desmond Ridder and John Wolford as examples in 2025.

“Depending on training camp performances, if the Vikings were to get a decent offer — say a third-round draft pick — for QB J.J. McCarthy, it wouldn’t be surprising if Minnesota starts the season with Murray, Wentz and perhaps Rush as its top three QBs,” Walters continued.

“Rush, now a free agent, played for $4 million for the Ravens last season.”

One Battle after Another

Walter always has something new and spicy to insert into his weekend column; the McCarthy trade proposition is merely the latest chapter.

He recently claimed the Wilfs could sell the team, as mentioned above, because after two years of heavy spending in 2024 and 2025, Minnesota put the clamps on the salary cap credit card, resetting the finances so that 2027 doesn’t look like a financial nightmare next March.

Walters also infamously claimed in September 2024 that the Vikings might move on from McCarthy six months after drafting him because Sam Darnold could blossom. Darnold later blossomed, and rather than keeping him around, the Vikings stayed loyal to McCarthy — to a fault — and did the opposite of Walters’ hot take.

Vikings Need QB Depth and Insurance

Would it be intriguing to explore a 3rd-Round pick for McCarthy’s services via trade if the club realized that Murray was its meal ticket for 2026 and beyond? Absolutely.

J.J. McCarthy plays in his first preseason game for the Vikings against the Las Vegas Raiders. — Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy takes snaps and directs the offense during his NFL preseason debut against the Las Vegas Raiders. The appearance came in August 2024 and marked McCarthy’s first game action before a meniscus injury later sidelined him for the entire season, forcing Minnesota to turn to veteran Sam Darnold. Mandatory Credit: YouTube

The problem? No one has a crystal ball, and Murray’s takeoff in Minnesota is not guaranteed. And even if Murray plays wonderfully under center, the fact remains that the man misses about one-quarter of all starts due to injury. If Murray gets hurt in 2026, the Vikings will need a Plan B. McCarthy, hungry to disprove the meme caricature of himself, is a fantastic Plan B, given his upside.

What’s more, two of the last three Vikings seasons have been gutted by quarterback injuries: 2023, when Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles tendon, and 2025, when McCarthy encountered a high ankle sprain, concussion, and a broken hand. Minnesota should not be in the business this summer of subtracting QB1 options; it has been hoarding them all offseason to avoid re-runs of the 2023 and 2025 campaigns.

Our Steve Hoikkala noted this week, “McCarthy has been polarizing, especially in Vikings fandom. Fans are choosing sides, and I just prefer to root for all of our players wearing purple.”

“Yes that means I can root for Kyler Murray a Vikings fan growing up like Carson Wentz getting to live out a dream as a kid playing quarterback for their favorite team while still rooting for a 23 year old kid in J.J. McCarthy who is a 1st Round Pick that has only played 10 games while showing ‘some’ upside and development to go with an injury riddled season that didn’t meet expectations as well in terms of production.”

Trading McCarthy Feels like a 2027 Talker

Of course, if the Vikings fire up a 2026 season similar to 2024 — finishing 14-3 and reaching the postseason — with Murray fully thriving in the offense, trading McCarthy in 2027 is a different story. By that time, he’d have one year left on his rookie contract, two if Minnesota or a different team opted into his expensive fifth-year option.

J.J. McCarthy warms up before a Vikings game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. — Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy goes through pregame warm-ups before a road contest against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. The quarterback prepared for action on Nov. 23, 2025, in Green Bay as Minnesota geared up for another important divisional matchup during the stretch run of the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

You should absolutely expect the McCarthy trade rumor mill to heat up in 2027 if Murray propels the Vikings to the playoffs and posts 25-40 touchdowns.

Until then, McCarthy-themed trade takes are just silly — unless he demands a ticket out of town. McCarthy requesting a trade would be a whole new ball of wax, but so far this summer, he has claimed that Minnesota is where he wants to be.

Vikings training camp is less than seven weeks away.