The Minnesota Vikings were supposed to usher in a new era when they drafted former Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. However, two years later, McCarthy’s future in Minnesota is increasingly bleak.
After an injury wiped out his rookie season before he could take a regular-season snap, McCarthy failed to make a significant impact last year and has now lost the starting job to veteran quarterback Kyler Murray, who was signed this offseason. As a result, trade chatter surrounding the third-year quarterback has also picked up.
Eagles Named Surprise Landing Spot For J.J. McCarthy
McCarthy lost the starting job to Murray before the preseason finale, which says plenty about his standing with the team, as well as his preseason performance. Through two weeks of the preseason, McCarthy has completed 9 of 17 passes for 115 yards, with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
The 23-year-old is now battling Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer for the backup job, and with Sunday bringing the 53-man roster cutdown, the Vikings could potentially look to trade him.
But would anyone actually be interested in the third-year signal-caller? According to NFL insider Jason La Canfora, the Philadelphia Eagles have emerged as one potential landing spot.
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“Another personnel executive suggested the Eagles as a potential bargain-bin buyer, with Eagles GM Howie Roseman doing extensive background work on developmental quarterbacks ahead of the supplemental draft,” La Canfora wrote.
However, the Eagles aren’t the only team reportedly monitoring McCarthy. Canfora also mentioned the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins as potential suitors.
“Another GM floated the Giants as a team in the mix, noting Jaxson Dart’s deep injury, New York’s ongoing rebuild, and backup Jameis Winston offering limited long-term upside,” he wrote.
“It is also worth noting that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is one of Michigan’s prominent boosters and watched McCarthy lead that program to national prominence.”
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While McCarthy’s preseason numbers are certainly disappointing, his 2025 campaign was not without some encouraging signs. He ranked No. 34 among quarterbacks in PFN’s Quarterback Impact metric (QBi), but he also led Minnesota to a 6-4 record in his 10 starts. McCarthy finished the season with four consecutive victories, helping reignite some optimism around his future.
However, his preseason performances have clearly left the Vikings disappointed, making Kevin O’Connell’s decision to move forward with Murray relatively straightforward. With the 53-man roster deadline approaching, Minnesota could soon be fielding calls from teams interested in taking a chance on the former first-round pick.
The Eagles, meanwhile, already have a Super Bowl MVP quarterback in Jalen Hurts, but 2026 could be a pivotal season for him after a disappointing campaign last year. Philadelphia can also afford to take a low-risk swing on McCarthy as a developmental quarterback, particularly if the Vikings are willing to part with him for a modest return.
