The New York Giants find themselves in a precarious position heading into the 2025 offseason. With their draft position slipping after an untimely win over the Indianapolis Colts, Big Blue now faces a steep climb to land one of the top quarterback prospects in Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward.
This raises a new possibility for the Giants’ long-term quarterback solution—why not trade for J.J. McCarthy?
McCarthy, who the Giants passed on in the 2024 draft, spent his rookie season with the Minnesota Vikings sidelined due to injury. Yet, the Michigan product’s potential remains tantalizing.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter recently floated the idea that quarterback-needy teams will inquire about McCarthy’s availability, citing his elite arm talent, athleticism, and football IQ. For the Giants, this could be a way to bypass the uncertainty of draft-day maneuvering while securing a franchise quarterback with a higher ceiling than any prospect they’re likely to land at No. 4, or wherever they end up.
“JJ McCarthy would’ve been a top if not THE top QB in this draft.”@AdamSchefter says teams will be calling the @Vikings to inquire about their rookie QB this offseason 👀 pic.twitter.com/ccgautztGb
— ESPN Radio (@ESPNRadio) January 1, 2025
But the price won’t be cheap. According to Schefter, McCarthy would command a first-round pick “and then some.” This would leave the Giants with some serious calculations to make: is mortgaging future draft capital worth the chance to stabilize the team’s most glaring weakness?
Considering the Vikings’ quarterback depth with Sam Darnold's resurgence and Daniel Jones' arrival, McCarthy might not be the future franchise quarterback the Vikings thought he'd be just months ago. That's where the Giants come in—queue Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York."
J.J. McCarthy offers a unique opportunity for the NY Giants
Trading for McCarthy might feel like an overcorrection after Big Blue passed on him in last year’s draft. Still, the Giants scouted him heavily and valued his upside, even if they opted for Malik Nabers at No. 6.
The decision was justified at the time, given Nabers’ ability to make an immediate impact on the field (success), but New York’s inability to secure a long-term answer at quarterback has only amplified the sting of that choice.
What makes McCarthy particularly appealing is his fit for the Giants’ system. His combination of mobility, decision-making, and field vision offers a skill set that could thrive under Brian Daboll’s offensive scheme—assuming Daboll is retained. By acquiring McCarthy, the Giants would avoid the high-risk, high-cost bidding war to move up in the draft while landing a quarterback who, as Schefter put it, “would’ve been QB1 in this year’s class.”
Of course, there’s always a risk involved in trading for an injured player. McCarthy’s torn ACL is a factor, but it hasn’t dampened his appeal as one of the most promising young quarterbacks in the league. It would definitely be a gamble for the G-Men, but at some point, this organization has to take a swing.
With the Eagles likely resting their starters in Week 18, the Giants have a chance to win and further damage their draft position. But if they’re serious about rebuilding, they can’t let the outcome of one meaningless game dictate their future. The McCarthy trade route requires bold action and a willingness to bet big on a high-upside talent.
Whether or not the Giants pull the trigger, their search for a quarterback cannot drag into another season. McCarthy offers a unique opportunity to correct past mistakes and finally move this franchise forward. Imagine McCarthy throwing dimes to Nabers for the next decade while fellow rookies Theo Johnson and Tyrone Tracy Jr. help build the foundation for one of the youngest and most potent offenses the Giants have seen in years.
It’s a move that would show New York is ready to stop settling for mediocrity—and start building for the future.