After signing veteran quarterback Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy’s future with the Minnesota Vikings is unclear. While McCarthy could still be the team’s long-time starting quarterback, most pundits don’t expect him to start during the 2026 NFL season.
On Monday, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell proposed a scenario where McCarthy isn’t on the Vikings roster next season.
Barnwell pitched a 2026 NFL Draft trade where the Vikings ship the 23-year-old quarterback as part of a package to move up five spots in the first round.
In the hypothetical trade, the Vikings sent their No. 18 pick, a 2026 third-rounder and McCarthy to the Los Angeles Rams. In return, the Vikings received the No. 13 overall selection.
“The Vikings are unlikely to move forward with the 2024 No. 10 overall pick as their quarterback of the future, having signed Kyler Murray to take over as their starter in 2026 before deciding on McCarthy’s fifth-year option after the season,” Barnwell wrote. “Getting something for the 23-year-old quarterback would make sense if the organization has decided it is going to be heading in a different direction.
“This move up would get the Vikes ahead of the Bucs and Jets if they want to look toward secondary help in Round 1.”
Barnwell didn’t specify who the Vikings would then draft at No. 13 overall. But based on 2026 NFL Draft big boards from the top experts, a move up five spots would put Minnesota within range of defensive backs such as Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy, Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah ranked those three defensive backs in the No. 15-17 range on his most recent big board.
Could Vikings Trade QB J.J. McCarthy to Rams?
GettyESPN’s Bill Barnwell proposed the Minnesota Vikings trade quarterback J.J. McCarthy to move up in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Even before the Vikings signed Murray, pundits floated McCarthy in potential trades. That’s only continued over the past few weeks.
The Rams are one of the more intriguing potential landing spots for the former No. 10 overall pick. Such a trade would send Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell’s former boss a potential replacement for reigning MVP Matthew Stafford.
“This trade would value McCarthy as being worth the 112th pick in a typical draft by the Johnson chart, a selection in the middle of the fourth round. That feels about right to me,” Barnwell wrote. “And the Rams would be on the hook for $6.6 million over the next two years, which isn’t much for a developmental backup quarterback.
“Could McCarthy’s solid final four games of the 2025 season (admittedly against dismal opposing defenses) portend growth and some future success? The Rams wouldn’t be paying much to find out.”
Who Could Vikings Target After Trade Up to No. 13 Overall?
GettyESPN’s Bill Barnwell projected the Minnesota Vikings to potentially trade up for Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman.
Barnwell indirectly admitted that McCarthy would be worth fourth-round value in his trade proposal. That’s essentially pennies on the dollar for a quarterback who was a first-rounder just two years ago.
If that truly is the correct value for McCarthy right now, it would seem more prudent for the Vikings to hold onto the quarterback to see what happens.
Two years ago, Minnesota learned the value of a backup quarterback when McCarthy suffered a summer injury. The Vikings are a Murray injury away from needing to turn back to McCarthy.
The advantage of accepting McCarthy’s fourth-round value and executing the trade proposal with the Rams, though, would be Minnesota’s increased chance of improving the secondary.
The Vikings have such a need at safety that some pundits have explored the possibility of Minnesota jumping up into the top 10 for Ohio State’s Caleb Downs.
At No. 13, the Vikings are unlikely to get Downs. But they could land one of the other top safeties.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. rated Thieneman and McNeil-Warren at No. 2 and 3 on his safeties list in the 2026 draft class.
Kiper also has McCoy as his No. 1 cornerback.
If the Vikings are all-in on Murray behind center, they could deal McCarthy for a move up the first-round board to improve their 2026 starting lineup.
Vikings Predicted to Shake up 2026 NFL Draft With J.J. McCarthy Trade