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Vikings Trade Proposal Turns Heads Ahead of Packers Showdown
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- Vikings Trade Proposal Turns Heads Ahead of Packers Showdown
Are they really going to do it? That's the question some are asking of the Minnesota Vikings as they getting set to begin the 2026 NFL season.
Are the Vikings really going to trade former Top 10 NFL draft pick J.J. McCarthy?
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The former Michigan Wolverines quarterback had a rough first season in the NFL. Now, some are wondering if he's worth keeping on the roster.
McCarthy's tough first year has brought out a myriad of reactions, but one popular notion is that the team will trade the former Vikings starter. An NFL analyst has an idea of where he could end up being traded.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report predicts the Vikings could find a landing spot for J.J. McCarthy in a trade with a familiar face. Here's some of what Knox had to say about McCarthy joining forces with a former college coach.
"The Vikings were quick to name free-agent addition Kyler Murray as their starter, and they have a veteran backup in Carson Wentz. While continuing to develop McCarthy is an option, Minnesota may want to rip off the proverbial Band-Aid and move on from him.
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The problem is that McCarthy doesn't have much of a trade market after struggling to stay healthy and largely playing poorly over his first two seasons.
The Los Angeles Chargers are one team that might be willing to take a chance on McCarthy. L.A. has its starting quarterback in Justin Herbert, but it has a less-experienced backup in Trey Lance, who is also on a one-year deal.
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh was McCarthy's coach at Michigan, and he could be interested in developing his former starter as a long-term backup in L.A.
While this isn't a trade that would impact the starting lineup of either the Vikings or the Chargers, it would bring an end to the McCarthy experiment in Minnesota."
Aug 22, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) throws the ball against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
As much as McCarthy may revere his former college coach Jim Harbaugh, it's unlikely he would be excited about the trade. The move would mean joining a quarterback room with established NFL star Justin Herbert, who has full command of the starting job with the Los Angeles Chargers.
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Herbert probably is not going to relinquish his spot any time soon, but going to Los Angeles would provide McCarthy a fresh start.
Nobody knows where McCarthy will end up by the end of the 2026 season. We'll keep monitoring the situation as the season nears.
