The Minnesota Vikings already moved J.J. McCarthy out of the starting quarterback job. Shannon Sharpe thinks the next move could be much bigger.
After watching McCarthy’s uneven preseason appearance against the New York Giants, the Pro Football Hall of Famer questioned whether Minnesota will even keep its former first-round pick on the roster. Sharpe believes Carson Wentz may give the Vikings a safer backup option behind Kyler Murray.
Shannon Sharpe Predicts Vikings Could Trade J.J. McCarthy
“I ain’t gonna hold you. It’s gonna be hard for J.J. McCarthy to stay on this roster,” Sharpe said on the “Nightcap” podcast. “I think there’s a greater chance they try and trade him.”
Sharpe’s argument centered on what Minnesota needs if Murray misses time. The Vikings named Murray their starter earlier this week, leaving McCarthy and Wentz behind him.
“If my starter goes down, who do I believe gives me the best chance to keep this thing afloat until Kyler gets back?” Sharpe asked. “You believe it’s J.J. McCarthy, or you believe it’s Carson Wentz?”
Chad Johnson answered Wentz, although he pushed back on the idea that Minnesota would move McCarthy only two years after selecting him No. 10 overall. However, Sharpe was unmoved.
“Man, please,” Sharpe responded, pointing to how quickly teams can change course at quarterback.
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Saturday did little to quiet the discussion. McCarthy completed 4 of 7 passes for 34 yards and was sacked once in Minnesota’s 13-10 win. The Vikings’ official recap noted that penalties and several Giants starters remaining on the field made life harder for the second unit.
Wentz looked steadier later. He finished 9 of 14 for 81 yards and threw the game-winning touchdown to Myles Price, posting a 103.6 passer rating.
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McCarthy’s Future Keeps Getting Murkier
McCarthy is still only 23, and there are obvious reasons not to treat one preseason game like a final exam. He missed his entire rookie season with a torn meniscus, then went 6-4 across 10 starts in 2025.
The production was uneven. McCarthy completed 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. His 67.0 PFN QB Impact score ranked 34th among qualifying quarterbacks.
Minnesota also has no immediate contract pressure. McCarthy is entering the third season of his four-year rookie deal, while Murray and Wentz are each on one-year contracts.
Still, the quarterback room has changed quickly. Murray won the starting job, Wentz just delivered a cleaner preseason performance, and future questions about McCarthy were already growing before Saturday.
McCarthy said this week that Minnesota is where he wants to stay, but Sharpe sees the situation differently, especially if the Vikings decide Wentz is better equipped to rescue a game or two behind Murray.
That is a long way from the franchise quarterback plan Minnesota had when it drafted McCarthy. For now, the Vikings have three quarterbacks and only one starting job. Sharpe thinks they may eventually decide they have one quarterback too many.
