A Vikings NFC Rival is a Sneaky Team to Watch in a J.J. McCarthy Trade

The Vikings insist that keeping J.J. McCarthy is the best path forward. In all likelihood, that’s exactly right due to at least a pair of factors. First, Minnesota has seen some recent years — 2023 & 2025 — undermined by quarterback injury. Second, Mr. McCarthy is a 23-year-old 1st-Round passer who boasts ample talent.

Why the discussion of a swap with a Vikings NFC rival?

Well, Minnesota is sorting through a bit of an awkward situation. McCarthy has been demoted after being leaned on as the primary starter for the 2025 season. Worse yet, the executive who drafted McCarthy — Kwesi Adofo-Mensah — is no longer employed in Minnesota. Mr. Adofo-Mensah is now with the 49ers, a team that looks like a sneaky contender for McCarthy’s services.

A Vikings NFC Rival as Trade Fit for J.J. McCarthy

San Francisco isn’t unfamiliar with the turmoil of injury. Last season, for instance, Brock Purdy got into just nine games. Consider the quarterback room more broadly:

• QB1 Brock Purdy
• QB2 Mac Jones
• QB3 Adrian Martinez
• QB4 Kurtis Rourke

Once upon a time, the 49ers traded up to snag a new franchise passer, opting for Trey Lance. So, too, did they invest in Purdy late in the 7th. Seeing Lance struggle with injury opened the door for Purdy (a job he didn’t relinquish). The point, folks, is to note that San Francisco has worked with young passers before, developing one while seeing the other struggle due to health.

Of note, as well, is that Sam Darnold had a stop in the Bay Area prior to becoming the Vikings’ QB1. Kevin O’Connell got a pile of credit for developing Darnold but coming out of the Kyle Shanahan school of playing quarterback is a major deal.

The systems are quite similar but San Francisco has proven far more successful.

Similarly of note is that Adofo-Mensah is back in San Francisco. The 49ers therefore employ the man with the most responsibility for the Vikings drafting J.J. McCarthy.

Similar system? Check. Connection? Check. Need for depth? Somewhat debatable, but let’s say tentative check.

Quite possibly, the 49ers would be interested in sending over a selection from the middle rounds to pry away McCarthy. Maybe Minnesota says no, refusing to back down from the public proclamations about desiring to keep the 2024 No. 10 selection. Or maybe the new GM can be persuaded.

Going to San Francisco would likely do wonders for J.J. McCarthy. He could step into the QB3 job, functioning as the emergency passer for games. He could soak up the coaching as he maintains his health across several seasons and refine his mechanics.

Apparently, the folks over at Bleacher Report have connected the dots on McCarthy and the 49ers. Brevan Bane reacted to the possibility on PurplePTSD, commenting that “a Shanahan-McCarthy union could jump-start the latter’s career.”

Indeed, Kyle Shanahan is perhaps the NFL’s foremost offensive mind (alongside Andy Reid and Sean McVay). He’s a brilliant play caller and tactician, constructing an elite run game in a way that Minnesota hasn’t even sniffed over these past several seasons.

For a long time, the guess on this end of the internet is that McCarthy doesn’t start in Week 1 but ends up starting more games in the end. And while I continue to believe McCarthy will be needed before too long, that doesn’t mean other teams won’t be calling with offers.

McCarthy, 23, is the current QB2 in Minnesota.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.