MINNEAPOLIS — Two years after he became the highest-drafted quarterback in franchise history, J.J. McCarthy no longer plays for the Minnesota Vikings.
The team traded McCarthy, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 draft, to the New York Giants on Monday for a fifth-round pick, ending the 23-year-old’s time in Minnesota after just 10 starts in two seasons. The trade is pending a physical.
By trading McCarthy, the Vikings will recoup more than $2.5 million of salary cap space, while incurring $3.1 million of dead money.
McCarthy missed his entire rookie season with a torn right meniscus before being named the Vikings’ starter in 2025. He completed only 57.6% of his passes in his 10 starts while throwing 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
The Vikings signed Kyler Murray to a one-year contract in March, and named him the starter at the end of a training camp competition with McCarthy on Aug. 11.