Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy floated for Ironic landing spot
The Minnesota Vikings have a quarterback battle brewing for training camp this year, and that would mean one of the quarterbacks could be off the ship by Week 1.
Third-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy has been the subject of trade rumors of late because Kyler Murray is a veteran with more past success. Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox has a rather ironic landing spot in mind for McCarthy.
That’s the Pittsburgh Steelers, where former rival Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the signal-caller. Rodgers was a thorn in the Vikings’ side for nearly two decades twice a season, so McCarthy learning from Rodgers could carry quite a bit of irony.
It would be especially true if McCarthy’s career trajectory changes through learning from Rodgers. McCarthy didn’t inspire in his first year as a starter after being made a No. 10 pick in 2024.
His performance of 57.6% for passing with 1,632 yards and 11 touchdowns versus 12 interceptions in 2025 is most concerning for any team wanting a franchise quarterback. McCarthy sitting for a year in Pittsburgh and soaking in all he can from a 42-year-old four-time MVP to transform things for the former Michigan star.
It has happened before in the NFL, and the Vikings saw that firsthand two years ago when Sam Darnold took over for an injured McCarthy. Darnold looked like a draft bust, but his time as a backup with the San Francisco 49ers turned around his career, as he learned from head coach Kyle Shanahan and starting quarterback Brock Purdy.
Minnesota let Darnold go in free agency after a stellar 2024 season, and he won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks. If the Vikings give up on McCarthy now and send him to Pittsburgh, that could come back to bite the Vikings many years from now if McCarthy becomes a top-tier franchise quarterback.
