Giants Insider Rips J.J. McCarthy Trade as ‘Desperate Move’ With Jaxson Dart Out

· Yahoo Sports

The New York Giants appeared ready to rely on Jameis Winston after losing Jaxson Dart for the rest of the regular season. They adjusted parts of the offense around Winston, and he helped the team win its first game without Dart.

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That victory made New York’s next decision more surprising. The Giants traded for J.J. McCarthy on Monday despite Winston’s successful first start, and one reporter who covers the team quickly questioned the move.

Dan Duggan Questions the Purpose of J.J. McCarthy Trade

Dan Duggan of The Athletic criticized the idea of bringing McCarthy to New York before the trade happened. His concern went beyond McCarthy’s passing numbers.

Aug 22, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) throws the ball against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Duggan questioned whether the Giants would solve a problem by spending draft capital on a quarterback who would have to learn a new offense in the middle of the season. He argued that even giving up a 2027 sixth-round pick or another late-round selection would be wasteful.

He also said there was no clear reason to believe McCarthy would be an upgrade over Winston after struggling in Minnesota. The Giants then sent the Vikings a 2027 fifth-round pick to complete the trade.

After the deal became official, Duggan gave an even stronger opinion during an appearance on SNY.

“I just think this is a desperate move. I don’t really see even the upside in it. I don’t think he’s a good quarterback. Is he going to come in here, learn the offense, take over for Jameis, and then lead this team… to what? To where?”


SNY Giants shared the comments after the trade. Duggan’s reaction showed that he still considered the move difficult to justify once the details became public.

McCarthy’s limited NFL record helps explain some of those concerns. The former No. 10 overall pick has made only 10 starts.

He completed 57.6% of his passes last season for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. His passer rating was 72.6, leaving McCarthy with plenty to prove as he joins a new team during the season.

J.J. McCarthy Now Has To Prove Giants Reporter Wrong

The Giants are not bringing in McCarthy because Winston has completely failed. Winston started in place of Dart and helped New York beat Tennessee 12-7.

Jan 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) throws a pass against the Green Bay Packers during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

He completed 14 of 22 passes for 118 yards. Head coach John Harbaugh said after the game that Winston would remain the starter against Arizona.

That makes McCarthy’s immediate role unclear. The Giants gave up a fifth-round pick for a quarterback who may not start right away.

McCarthy must first learn the offense, adjust to a new coaching staff and compete with Winston for opportunities. However, New York also has reasons for believing the move is worth the risk.

McCarthy was the No. 10 overall pick in 2024 after leading Michigan to a national championship. He missed his entire rookie season because of a knee injury before going 6-4 in 10 starts for Minnesota in 2025.

The Vikings later moved forward with Kyler Murray, while McCarthy fell behind Carson Wentz. He was Minnesota’s third-string quarterback before the trade opened another opportunity in New York.

The Giants also knew McCarthy well before acquiring him. New York seriously evaluated him during the 2024 draft process before selecting Malik Nabers at No. 6. Minnesota took McCarthy four picks later.

That history shows the deal was not simply a random response to Dart’s injury. The Giants had already studied McCarthy and decided his potential was worth a 2027 fifth-round pick.

Dart is unavailable for the rest of the regular season, and Winston remains the starter for now. New York needed another quarterback, but Duggan does not believe McCarthy was the right choice.

McCarthy now has a chance to prove otherwise. His development will determine whether the Giants found value in a former first-round pick or made the desperate move Duggan believes they did.

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