Proposed QB Swap Would Send J.J. McCarthy Out of Minnesota

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Proposed QB Swap Would Send J.J. McCarthy Out of Minnesota

Proposed QB Swap Would Send J.J. McCarthy Out of Minnesota — Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy jogs onto the field before kickoff on Sep. 14, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, ahead of a matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. The pregame moment captured McCarthy's routine preparation as Minnesota opened play with its young quarterback under early-season scrutiny and growing expectations. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.

Janik Eckardt · Vikings Territory

Wed, Feb 11, 2026 ·

5 min read

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The Vikings' quarterback situation has officially entered chaos mode. A month after the season ended, the Vikings are being linked to nearly every available quarterback . Given the subpar play in 2025, that's no surprise. The vast majority of fans and analysts expect the club to pair starter J.J. McCarthy with a veteran, but a trade scenario surfaced this week.

Bleacher Report's Moe Moton predicted this year's QB carousel. Instead of pairing McCarthy in the Twin Cities with the usual passers, such as Kirk Cousins , Mac Jones , or a comparable candidate, he sent him to Arizona in a swap for Kyler Murray .

Moton wrote , "The Arizona Cardinals could turn over their quarterback room under new head coach Mike LaFleur. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the team is 'likely' to move on from Kyler Murray before his guaranteed money raises the cost to keep him. The Cardinals should call the Minnesota Vikings about a signal-caller swap to dump Murray's contract and take on J.J. McCarthy's rookie deal. The third-year quarterback's contract would cost only about $6 million against the cap."

Nov 12, 2023; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) makes 2023 debut against the Atlanta Falcons at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-Arizona Republic

Murray has already surfaced in Vikings rumors, with some pointing to his Pro Bowl résumé as a potential fix for Minnesota 's struggles. Others perceive him as a poor fit. Either way, his arrival would make McCarthy the odd man out. If Murray lands in Minnesota, he wouldn't be coming to compete; he'd be the starter.

Arizona, meanwhile, doesn't have a long-term option on the roster. If Murray is out, journeyman Jacoby Brissett would be the starter. Adding an upside player like McCarthy makes sense.

Still, Moton would pair McCarthy with Kirk Cousins: "In addition, Arizona can add Kirk Cousins to replace Jacoby Brissett, who may not fit into the new coaching staff's plans."

Cousins, like Murray, continues to surface in Vikings speculation.

McCarthy would get a fresh start in Arizona and a year to prove he's a future franchise quarterback. He just turned 23 and this year's draft class doesn't provide signal-callers as talented as the former 10th overall pick outside of top guy Fernando Mendoza.

Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy against the Giants in 2025 — Dec 21, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) practices before the game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Moton added, "Because of the perceived gap between Fernando Mendoza and the other quarterback prospects in the 2026 draft class, the Cardinals are unlikely to add a signal-caller with the No. 3 pick. Instead, they can develop McCarthy, who's only 23, and have him battle Cousins for the lead job. If Arizona doesn't think the former is ready to play, the latter can run the offense as the unquestioned starter for at least a year. In this scenario, LaFleur would have an experienced quarterback under center while working on a high-upside developmental player who showed flashes in the previous season."

McCarthy entered the season with high hopes, a year after Sam Darnold lit up the league in the first 16 games of the season. It turns out Darnold may have simply been a good quarterback, not just a product of his surroundings.

Sophomore McCarthy started only ten games, suffering three separate injuries that cost him game time. His first six games were mostly a disaster, while his play improved in the final four. Critics point to the level of competition; others highlight how much more comfortable he looked. The truth likely lies somewhere in the middle: He had learned a thing or two, and playing subpar defenses helped.

J.J. McCarthy and Marcus Mariota interact after a game at U.S. Bank Stadium — Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy shares a postgame exchange with Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota following the final whistle on Dec 7, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The moment captured a brief crossover between the Vikings' future under center and a veteran quarterback long tied to offseason speculation. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

The expectation remains that Minnesota will give McCarthy another year to prove he can take the leap in his third year in the NFL and the second year as a starter, while acquiring a veteran presence as a fallback option.

But that assumption may no longer be safe. Just last week, ESPN's Kevin Seifert reported while exploring the next steps after the front office shakeup, "Does this change the Vikings' plans for QB J.J. McCarthy? The best way to put this, based on what sources have said, is that all bets are off. The general manager who drafted McCarthy No. 10 in 2024 has been fired, and the coach who was in full agreement with that decision is now under considerably more scrutiny."

Either way, whether that is in Minnesota, Arizona, or elsewhere, McCarthy needs a coaching staff that trusts him and wants to unlock his potential. The next month may define not only McCarthy's future, but the direction of the entire franchise.

Editor's Note: Information from PFF , Over The Cap , and Sports Reference helped with this article.

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