​The Minnesota Vikings have already moved outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason, and now fanside predicts another big-name departure could be coming: quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The site highlighted every team’s most tradeable asset this week, and it pegged McCarthy as Minnesota’s prized trade chip.
In Fansided’s coverage, McCarthy is positioned as the Vikings’ primary trade asset among notable names, with Wynston Wilcox arguing that McCarthy could become the most talked-about backup quarterback aside from Ty Simpson. The piece suggests McCarthy’s days in Minnesota could be numbered, noting that even the possibility of pursuing Anthony Richardson might signal the end for McCarthy in the Twin Cities. According to Wilcox, the question isn’t if McCarthy will be traded, but when, and it could happen before Week 1 or closer to the trade deadline. The article even asks whether McCarthy should be traded, arguing yes.
The chatter about McCarthy follows early mentions of Murray as a potential trade candidate since the Vikings signed Kyler Murray in free agency. The core reason to consider trading McCarthy isn’t instability for instability’s sake: it’s that Minnesota has learned the hard way the dangers of quarterback volatility. Last season the Vikings invested in McCarthy but surrounded him with a shaky backup corps—Sam Howell, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer—leading to continued instability and a missed playoff appearance. McCarthy himself faced struggles as the team tried to stabilize around him.
Kyler Murray’s arrival isn’t meant to render McCarthy obsolete but to provide a strong Plan A that protects against a bad run of injuries or a rough stretch, and to offer a credible Plan B if McCarthy wins the training-camp quarterback battle. McCarthy’s upside remains substantial, so he isn’t someone you discard lightly just because a trade is being discussed. Murray’s presence adds value for Minnesota, and McCarthy’s potential remains a factor, making the situation a central question for the Vikings’ quarterback depth and strategy.