Giants Acquire Former First-Round Pick JJ McCarthy from Vikings for 2027 Fifth-Rounder as Depth Behind Struggling Jameis Winston After Jaxson Dart’s Season-Ending Knee Injury Leaves New York 2-1 and Searching for Stability

*Giants Acquire Former First-Round Pick J.J. McCarthy from Vikings for 2027 Fifth-Rounder as Depth Behind Struggling Jameis Winston*

The New York Giants are wasting little time trying to save their season after losing their starter.

The Giants have acquired quarterback *J.J. McCarthy from the Minnesota Vikings for a fifth-round pick in the 2027 draft*, pending McCarthy passing a physical exam. Minnesota announced the deal Monday, Sept. 28.

The move comes less than a week after starter *Jaxson Dart suffered a season-ending knee injury* early in the Week 2 loss at the Los Angeles Rams. Dart had surgery last week on his left knee.

New York is currently 2-1 and searching for stability.

Winston Struggling as QB1

The Giants beat the Tennessee Titans 12-7 on Sunday amid nor’easter conditions at MetLife Stadium with veteran Jameis Winston starting, despite not scoring a touchdown and having just 238 yards of offense.

Winston has completed 25 of 49 passes for 229 yards with zero touchdowns and one interception this season since entering the Week 2 loss after Dart’s injury. Against Tennessee, he completed 14 of 22 passes for 118 yards as the Giants opted for a run-heavy game plan with 33 attempts.

Coach John Harbaugh said afterward Winston would get the nod again Sunday against Arizona, but hinted the team was not content to stand pat.

“The plans are the plans. The opportunities that you have are the opportunities you have. No matter what, we’re going to do everything we can to make our team as strong as we can based on what options we have,” Harbaugh said.

A Fresh Start for McCarthy

McCarthy, 23, was the 10th overall pick in the 2024 draft and won a national championship at Michigan playing for Giants coach John Harbaugh’s brother, Jim.

After missing his rookie season to undergo knee surgery, he won his 2025 debut at Chicago but sputtered most of last season due to injuries. A high ankle sprain in Week 2 last season cost him five games.

In 10 career games, McCarthy has posted a 6-4 record with 1,632 yards passing with 12 interceptions and 11 touchdowns.

He had fallen to third on the Vikings depth chart after competing for the starting job with Kyler Murray in the offseason. When Minnesota named Murray as the starter and Carson Wentz as his primary backup, it signaled there was little room for growth for McCarthy.

Minnesota signed Murray, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2019 draft, in the offseason and he beat out McCarthy for the QB1 role before preseason games even started. The Vikings are now 3-0 after Murray returned to the lineup on Sunday.

For the Giants, obtaining a former No. 10 overall pick with two years left on his rookie contract for a mid-Day 3 selection is low-risk business. For the Vikings, they officially close the door on a player who was once considered a big part of their future.

McCarthy will now provide competition and insurance behind Winston as New York hosts the Arizona Cardinals in Week 4.