The Minnesota Vikings and quarterback J.J. McCarthy have been in the rumor mill a lot throughout the 2026 NFL offseason.
After the team handed him the keys to the franchise last offseason, moving on from Sam Darnold in the process, things didn’t go according to plan. McCarthy dealt with injury problems and only played in 10 games.
During the 10 games he played, McCarthy was unable to prove that he could be the long-term franchise quarterback for the Vikings. That led the team to bringing in former No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray after the Arizona Cardinals decided to move on from him.
Since that move for Murray was made, he has been expected to be the starter. Carson Wentz was also brought back, which led to trade rumors around McCarthy.
While McCarthy’s future in Minnesota is very unclear at this point in time, one NFL scout thinks it’s way too early for the Vikings to move on from him.
Vikings Given Strong Warning About J.J. McCarthy’s Future
An NFL scout, who currently works for an NFC team, spoke out to Heavy with his thoughts on McCarthy and his future in Minnesota.
“They just traded up to get him in the first round a couple years ago. To give up on him now would be a mistake,” the scout said.
“Early results are judged far too quickly from the media. He hasn’t been able to stay healthy. Give him another year or two before making a final decision.”
McCarthy will have a chance to battle for the starting job this season. The Vikings are not entering preseason and training camp action with a starter named. Kevin O’Connell plans to have a true quarterback competition this offseason.
Perhaps the former Michigan standout will be able to start showing the potential that made Minnesota select him with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
A Look at J.J. McCarthy’s NFL Career So Far
Right off the bat as a rookie, McCarthy was hit with a major setback. He suffered a knee injury during the preseason that forced him to miss the entire season.
In 2025, as previously mentioned, McCarthy had more injury problems. He played in 10 games, completing 57.6 percent of his pass attempts for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. McCarthy also ran for 181 yards and four more touchdowns.
Granted, there are reasons to be concerned about McCarthy’s play last season. However, it’s easy to forget that the 2025 campaign was the equivalent of his rookie year.
Being patient would be wise for the Vikings. Giving up too early on a young quarterback can have dire consequences. Just ask the Cleveland Browns regarding Baker Mayfield.
All of that being said, this offseason is crucial for McCarthy. He needs to come into camp and show improvement. If he can do that, there still might be a future for him in Minnesota.
Minnesota Vikings Given Strong Warning About J.J. McCarthy