The New York Giants were desperate for some quarterback depth after Jaxson Dart was ruled out for the season due to a knee injury suffered in the second game. So, the Giants gave the Minnesota Vikings a call, who were more than happy to give up J.J. McCarthy for a fifth-round draft pick.
Entering the trade deadline, McCarthy is 2-0 as the Giants' starting quarterback. As for the Vikings, they watched their undefeated season get squandered, losing back-to-back games to the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills. The latter game showcased that the Vikings had a desperate need for a new starting quarterback, as Carson Wentz looked downright dreadful.
Now, the Vikings have made a huge pivot to bring back a familiar face in an effort to help them stay afloat in a crowded NFC North race. As for the Giants, they can just relax knowing they have quarterback situated, since the Vikings gave up on an internal option in McCarthy.
Giants watch Vikings pivot back to Kirk Cousins at trade deadline
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported on Tuesday, just hours before the trade deadline, that the Vikings have made former quarterback and current Las Vegas Raider Kirk Cousins as their "prime trade candidate." The Ringer's Tom Pelissero reported that the trade was indeed finalized, with the Vikings giving up their 2027 third-round pick in exchange for Cousins. That's right, the Vikings and head coach Kevin O'Connell gave up draft capital to reunite with Cousins
The Vikings and O'Connell notably moved on from Cousins after the 2023 season, allowing him to sign a lucrative contract with the Atlanta Falcons. Their thinking was they would draft a young quarterback for O'Connell to develop, while taking a flyer on Sam Darnold on a one-year contract. They drafted McCarthy with the 10th overall pick, with the plan being that Darnold would serve as a bridge option. With McCarthy suffering a season-ending knee injury in the preseason, the Vikings relied on Darnold, who led the team to 14 wins and a playoff berth. But after the season, the Vikings allowed Darnold to leave for the Seattle Seahawks, and continue to bank on McCarthy.
In 2025, McCarthy, admittedly, did not look great when he started games last season. Meanwhile, Darnold went on to win the Super Bowl with a dominant Seahawks team. O'Connell and the Vikings brought in Kyler Murray, thinking he could reviatlize his career in Minnesota, while effectively benching McCarthy.
Oh, how the tables have turned for the Vikings and the Giants, for that matter.
Giants decision to trade for J.J. McCarthy looks even wiser with Vikings trade deadline QB chase
Look, sometimes a change of scenery works wonders for a player. For McCarthy, it was evident that he had fallen out of favor with O'Connell, hence why he was effectively demoted to third-string. The fact that they used a 10th overall pick on him and decided a fifth-round pick in return goes to show just how much they were ready to move on.
Yet, they witnessed McCarthy play well in the start of his Giants tenure. There was the fourth quarter performance in Week 6 against the New Orleans Saints, where he threw for 243 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a late comeback attempt. In Week 7, McCarthy completed 20-of-28 pass attempts for 252 yards, while logging a rushing touchdown in the 27-21 overtime win over the Houston Texans.
The fact that the Vikings couldn't get anything out of McCarthy and the Giants did relatively quickly is an indictment on the quarterback's former team. They could have pivoted to McCarthy this season, especially once Wentz put up a dud performance on Monday night. Now, they had to give up a third-round pick to bring Cousins back. Let's say this, the eventual Cousins vs. McCarthy Wild Card Round matchup will carry tons of bragging rights.
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