Forget about the big-name vets floating around, because the most realistic quarterback a needy team could trade for right now might just be Minnesota’s J.J. McCarthy. Yeah, you heard that right. Tom Pelissero spelled it out on Thursday during a chat with Bill Simmons for The Ringer, naming McCarthy as a prime target.
Why J.J. McCarthy Is the League’s Secret Weapon
Pelissero didn’t mince words, stating that while someone like San Francisco’s Mac Jones is a possibility, “that’s gonna cost you.” Jones is stuck behind Brock Purdy, who can’t seem to stay healthy, but apparently, the price tag is still sky-high. Indianapolis’ Anthony Richardson is another name thrown out there, but he’s Daniel Jones’ backup, who’s in his first season after rupturing his Achilles. Plus, Richardson has completed barely over 50 percent of his career pass attempts. Pelissero made it clear, “I don’t think the Colts even want to trade Anthony Richardson right now.”
So that leaves us with McCarthy. Simmons, sounding a little surprised, piped up with “J.J. McCarthy?!” But Pelissero had the receipts. McCarthy is on his rookie contract, he’s got a winning record as a starter, and teams already did their homework on him a couple of years ago. They know the good, they know the bad. This makes him one of the first calls a team is going to make if their starter goes down. As Pelissero put it, “Who else are you going to go get that’s got potential upside?” McCarthy fits that bill, big time.
The Giants Are on the Brink, and Winston Holds the Key
Now, let’s talk about the New York Giants. Things got real rough for them after Jaxson Dart went down with season-ending surgery on Thursday. Right now, it’s veteran Jameis Winston leading the charge. And here’s the kicker: the Giants reportedly haven’t even called the Vikings about McCarthy yet. That’s pretty telling, isn’t it? Ian Rapoport mentioned Gardner Minshew and Justin Fields as guys with experience in Giants offensive coordinator Matt Nagy’s system, but McCarthy? Nothing from Rapoport there.
However, veteran New York sports writer Gary Myers dropped a bombshell, connecting the Giants to McCarthy directly. Myers tweeted that GM Joe Schoen allegedly considered drafting McCarthy sixth overall in 2024, before they took Malik Nabers. Myers also pointed out that McCarthy helped Jim Harbaugh win a national championship in 2023, and Jim loves McCarthy. Since John and Jim often sign players with a shared history, this connection is huge. A trade for McCarthy would probably only cost a mid-round pick, and the Giants could run the same RPO offense they were using with Dart, an offense that is simply not suited for Jameis Winston. Myers thinks it’s a “low-risk move” for the Giants. Sure, McCarthy has been a “huge disappointment” in Minnesota, but the dude is only 23 years old, just a few months older than Dart.
The Vikings, though, aren’t just giving McCarthy away for scraps. Pelissero made that clear to a Twin Cities radio station. Why would they? They’ve already had to play backup Carson Wentz after Kyler Murray was concussed in Week 1, so they know how quickly things can spiral.
So, here we are. Jameis Winston takes the field with the Giants’ season on his shoulders. If he struggles, that trade call for J.J. McCarthy might just become inevitable. It’s a high-stakes game for everyone involved, and you know the league is watching every snap.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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