The Minnesota Vikings have an interesting situation at quarterback heading into the 2026 NFL season. The plan is for the team to hold a competition between former Arizona Cardinals passer Kyler Murray and third-year signal-caller J.J. McCarthy.
However, the Vikings don't have a solid plan past the coming season, and it will be interesting to see how new general manager Nolan Teasley approaches the position next offseason and what will happen with this season's competition.
Of course, there is always a chance that the quarterback competition won't happen this season. A few factors could make that happen, whether it is injuries, the decision of head coach Kevin O'Connell, or a trade that changes the dynamic.
Could the Minnesota Vikings trade quarterback J.J. McCarthy to a team in the NFC West?
There might not be a bigger wild card in the NFL this season than the Minnesota Vikings. Solid quarterback play on an offense with several great weapons, combined with defense coordinator Brian Flores' aggressive techniques, could be a recipe for success.
The question of who the Vikings' quarterback must be asked, even if few people believe there is truly a competition for the starting job. Most fans believe that it is Kyler Murray's job to lose, which could make McCarthy expendable, especially if the franchise doesn't see him as a potential future starter.
On Saturday, FanSided's Wynston Wilcox shared an article that focused on four trades that should happen before the start of the 2026 NFL season. Included in that piece was a potential trade idea involving J.J. McCarthy.
This trade wouldn't be much of a win for either team involved, but the Arizona Cardinals are a team that could use an injection of talent into their quarterback room. Still, this seems like it is Minnesota giving up and Arizona settling at a low price.
Here are the terms of the trade idea:
Cardinals receive: QB J.J. McCarthy
Vikings receive: 2027 fifth-round pick and 2027 seventh-round pick
Apparently, Wilcox believes it is inevitable that the Minnesota Vikings move on from J.J. McCarthy.
"The writing is on the wall; Kyler Murray is the new quarterback in town, and the Minnesota Vikings even brought Carson Wentz back too."
Kyler Murray is only on a one-year deal in Minnesota, and Carson Wentz's shoulder was hanging on by a thread last season. The Vikings did bring Cooper Rush in as well, so the purple and gold might be thinking about moving on from the former University of Michigan quarterback.
For the Minnesota Vikings, trading a quarterback that they spent the No. 10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to select for two late picks would be a huge admission of wasting that pick and not seeing a future in McCarthy, and would force the team to look for a long-term option sooner than expected.
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