# Giants Trade J.J. McCarthy for Confusion

> Giants trade J.J. McCarthy for unclear benefit.
- Title: Giants Trade J.J. McCarthy for Confusion · CBS Sports
- Summary: Giants trade J.J. McCarthy for unclear benefit. Giants acquired J.J. McCarthy from Vikings in exchange for fifth-round pick, but his performance and role…
- Keywords: giants, j.j. mccarthy, jameis winston, minnesota vikings, nfl, jackson dart, fifth-round pick, quarterback, trade, new york giants, joe schoen, jimmy garoppolo
- Source: CBS Sports — https://cbssports.com/nfl/news/why-giants-trade-for-j-j-mccarthy-makes-no-sense
- Published: 2026-09-29T16:25:46+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: giants, j.j. mccarthy, jameis winston, minnesota vikings, nfl, jackson dart, fifth-round pick, quarterback, trade, new york giants, joe schoen, jimmy garoppolo
## Giants trade J.J. McCarthy
Giants sent fifth-round pick to Minnesota Vikings for former No. 10 overall selection J.J. McCarthy.
## Trade makes little sense
This trade doesn't make sense, as McCarthy isn't the best option among Giants' short list including Jimmy Garoppolo, Gardner Minshew, Mac Jones, and Justin Fields.
## Giants have Jaxson Dart
Giants have injured Jaxson Dart, a prospective franchise quarterback, unless McCarthy is their long-term signal-caller.
## Jameis Winston is backup
Giants have Jameis Winston, a better backup quarterback than most second-stringers, but McCarthy may not be an upgrade.
## Harbaugh's excitement
Giants head coach John Harbaugh said he's happy to add McCarthy, calling him a strong young quarterback with NFL experience.

> Really happy, very excited to add J.J. McCarthy
## McCarthy's performance
McCarthy has struggled in his first three NFL seasons, finishing last in completion percentage and TD-INT ratio in his debut season.
## McCarthy's stats
McCarthy's 2025 season completion percentage was 57.6%, passing yards per game 163.2, and TD-INT ratio 11-12.
## McCarthy's draft history
McCarthy is the fourth first-round quarterback since 1970 to start 10 or fewer games, with three busts: Paxton Lynch, Trey Lance, and Johnny Manziel.
## Trade compensation
Giants traded a fifth-round pick for McCarthy, but he has two more years on his rookie deal while Winston has three more through 2028.
## Why trade doesn't make sense
Giants would not have made this trade if Dart didn't get injured, but McCarthy is a question mark for a team needing a starter.
## Key takeaway

Giants acquired J.J. McCarthy from Vikings in exchange for fifth-round pick, but his performance and role remain uncertain.