The Vikings entered the season hopeful after moving on from Sam Darnold and handing the reins to J.J. McCarthy, but the transition has been rocky. After missing his rookie year with an injury, McCarthy has struggled in nine starts, throwing more interceptions than touchdowns while also dealing with health issues.
With questions growing about his long-term outlook, speculation has emerged that Minnesota could explore other options at quarterback in 2026. If that happens, one insider believes the Vikings could have interest in a potential trade for a two-time MVP from the AFC North.
Will The Vikings Trade J.J. McCarthy?
McCarthy is currently ranked 40th on PFSN’s QB Impact metric and has the lowest completion percentage among the 46 qualified quarterbacks at 57.3%. He has also missed seven games this season due to recurring health issues, with his injury history dating back to his college days.
These concerns could push Minnesota to explore other options, possibly including a trade involving McCarthy for Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson. According to The Athletic’s Mike Sando, an agent compared the scenario to the Dallas Mavericks trading away Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers.
“The Mavericks were complaining about Luka’s toughness, taking care of his body, work ethic. Luka gets moved, he loses all that weight, he gets in great shape and he’s got a new lease on life. Lamar might be the same,” the agent said.
“If Lamar were to be put on the block even quietly, and you are a team that is not established at quarterback, do whatever it takes,” the agent added.
The agent loved the idea of a potential Jackson and McCarthy swap, but the Ravens would only entertain such an idea if there were at least a couple of first-round picks involved.
Baltimore entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations after a divisional round exit last year behind an MVP-caliber season from Jackson. And while it has been a disappointing season for the Ravens, Jackson hasn’t been entirely bad, ranking 17th in QBi, and still has a chance to rescue Baltimore’s season.
If he manages to lead the Ravens to the postseason on Sunday, Baltimore would be even less interested in moving him, and even a potential trade involving McCarthy and multiple first-round picks may be unflattering.
Even in the event of a Baltimore loss, Jackson remains the franchise cornerstone for the Ravens, and one bad season is certainly not enough to give up on him. If Baltimore decides to make changes, accountability would likely start at the top with head coach John Harbaugh, one of the longest-serving head coaches in the NFL.
Additionally, it may also be too early for Minnesota to give up on McCarthy. He may be ranked one of the worst quarterbacks in the league overall, but he showed massive performance in his final three starts before injury. Minnesota went on to win all three games, with McCarthy throwing for five touchdowns against two interceptions, while also adding 54 rushing yards and scoring twice on the ground.
Regardless of how things unfold, neither Jackson’s nor McCarthy’s job security appears 100% guaranteed going into the 2026 season. The possibility of a swap between Baltimore and Minnesota may be very low, but the mere existence of such speculation underscores how turbulent this season has been for both franchises.
