Vikings' J.J. McCarthy has not requested a trade after benching, per NFL Insider

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It’s safe to say that the first two-plus years of Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s career have not gone according to plan. After his rookie year was ruined by a torn meniscus, nagging injuries and inconsistent play prevented him from turning his second season into a memorable one.

From @NFLGameDay Kickoff: While there are still questions about #Vikings QB JJ McCarthy, the argument can be made that his best-case scenario is answering them in Minnesota this year. pic.twitter.com/PFtuiOuAhQ

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 28, 2026

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McCarthy has lost all semblance of being the Vikings’ quarterback of the future in his third season. Former Arizona Cardinal Kyler Murray has established himself as the team’s No. 1 quarterback. McCarthy will either be the second- or third-string signal caller. Head coach Kevin O’Connell will determine the Vikings’ QB pecking order after the team’s final preseason game Friday night at Denver.

While it has been a fall from grace from the quarterback who led Michigan to the national championship in the 2023 season, McCarthy has not asked to be traded as of yet. NFL insider Ian Rapoport says that McCarthy’s contract status — he’s in the third year of a four-year rookie deal — means that the Vikings are not compelled to move him at this point.

However, if the Vikings end up naming veteran Carson Wentz as the team’s No. 2 quarterback over McCarthy, that could change the environment in the locker room and the front office.

The Vikings will certainly listen if other teams come calling about the No. 10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He would certainly return a high draft pick in a trade, but the exact value has not been determined at this point.

McCarthy completed 140 of 243 passes for 1,632 yards last season with 11 TDs and 12 interceptions. In addition to that ordinary performance, he lacked accuracy when throwing to wide open receivers and that may keep McCarthy from developing into a competent NFL quarterback.

Related: Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell teases cryptic Harrison Smith conversations

Related: Will J.J. McCarthy’s injury ruin chances to win Vikings’ QB2 job vs. Broncos?