Charley Waters writes the Vikings would likely move J.J. McCarthy if training camp brings a “decent offer,” mentioning at least a third-round pick as the trigger—especially with Kyler Murray, Carson Wentz and the recent visit from Cooper Rush already in the mi
On a Vikings roster built around a quarterback competition, the most fragile thing may be the margin for error—especially for J.J. McCarthy.
Minnesota is currently caught in a battle between Kyler Murray and McCarthy. The idea is simple, even if the consequences aren’t: whoever ends up on the wrong side of the QB hierarchy would be left in a precarious spot.
Charley Waters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press lays out the economics of that situation in plain terms. If McCarthy loses the quarterback competition. he would be “officially… demoted after just one season.” With fellow quarterback Carson Wentz also on the roster. Waters says the Vikings could consider dealing McCarthy if the right offer shows up. In that scenario, Waters says Waters would be asking for “at least a third-round pick.”.
Waters ties the potential decision directly to what happens in training camp. “Depending on training camp performances. if the Vikings were to get a decent offer — say a third-round draft pick — for QB J.J. McCarthy. it wouldn’t be surprising if Minnesota starts the season with Murray. Wentz and perhaps Rush as its top three QBs. ” Waters wrote.
He also notes another piece of the roster puzzle: the Vikings brought in Cooper Rush for a visit. If Minnesota were to sign him, Waters argues it would make McCarthy even more expendable.
McCarthy’s situation is already loaded with risk. After missing his entire rookie season due to a knee injury, the quarterback returned in a run of games in 2025. He went 6-4 over the 10 games he started, finishing with 57.6 percent of his passes for 1,632 yards, including 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
But Waters points to one additional fact that has a way of changing the temperature around any young quarterback: Minnesota went out and signed Murray. That move, he suggests, indicates where McCarthy currently stands in the organization’s planning.
Still, training camp isn’t finished with him. Waters says there is a chance McCarthy can win back the starting job in training camp. If he can’t, the trade conversation, in his view, will only get louder.
And in a league where timing matters almost as much as talent, the threshold Waters puts on the table is clear: if Minnesota is offered a third-round pick or better, it could become “too good to pass up” if the Vikings have already decided McCarthy isn’t the quarterback of the future.
Minnesota Vikings J.J. McCarthy Kyler Murray Carson Wentz Cooper Rush quarterback competition trade price third-round pick training camp