The New York Giants’ 2025 draft position has dropped, and with a real possibility of defeating the Philadelphia Eagles’ backup players in Week 18, it could fall even further after the regular season concludes.
To complicate matters, another victory could eliminate the Giants from contention for top quarterback prospects Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, unless they make a bold move to trade back up the draft order. If they’re willing to part with significant assets to acquire a young talent like Ward or Sanders, it raises the question of whether GM Joe Schoen should instead consider targeting a different potential franchise quarterback.
As SNY insider Connor Hughes reported on January 3, the Giants currently hold the No. 4 pick, but a win over the Eagles could drop them as low as No. 8. He further noted that it’s unlikely they could secure Sanders at No. 8, especially if quarterback-needy teams hold picks No. 1 or 2 (such as the Titans, Browns, and Jaguars). In this scenario, Hughes suggests the Giants could trade the No. 8 pick to the Minnesota Vikings and select J.J. McCarthy instead, as he would be highly graded by NFL evaluators.
But there are several points to consider here. Would the Vikings be willing to part with McCarthy, who is nearing his 22nd birthday? Would the Giants prefer McCarthy over Ward, Sanders, or other 2025 prospects after passing on him in 2024? And would a single top-10 pick be enough to acquire McCarthy if he becomes available?
Why Might the Vikings Trade J.J. McCarthy to the Giants?
The first key question is whether McCarthy would even be available for trade. The Vikings are currently seeing strong performance from Sam Darnold, and there are reports indicating the team could keep him on a franchise tag while continuing to evaluate both Darnold and McCarthy. This scenario seems the most likely.
However, McCarthy’s trade value may peak in 2025 due to a weak quarterback draft class, limited available free agents, and the fact that several QB-needy teams, like the Giants, might overpay for a young talent like McCarthy. If he were to return and lose the starting job to Darnold, his trade value could decrease, as potential suitors might have already found other options by 2026.
Additionally, a financial incentive for Minnesota to trade McCarthy could stem from the high cap hit associated with Darnold’s potential franchise tag. A McCarthy trade could allow them to allocate money more effectively elsewhere.
Would the Giants Be Interested in McCarthy After Passing on Him in 2024?
The Giants’ scouting team, led by GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll, spent considerable time evaluating McCarthy in 2024. Ultimately, they showed interest in other quarterbacks like Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye, and prioritized wide receiver Malik Nabers over McCarthy, selecting him with the No. 6 pick. This indicates that while the Giants might not have been enamored with McCarthy as a prospect last year, their views could shift this time around, especially since they’ve already secured a receiver in Nabers.
Despite not selecting him in 2024, McCarthy did impress during his lone preseason appearance, completing 11-of-17 passes for 188 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception.
Is One Top-10 Pick Enough to Acquire McCarthy from the Vikings?
Determining McCarthy’s trade value is difficult, as it depends on the level of interest from other teams. If multiple franchises want McCarthy, a bidding war could drive his price higher than a top-10 pick. However, the No. 4 overall pick would likely be an attractive option for the Vikings, who are positioned toward the end of the draft. Even if the Giants end up with a pick in the No. 5 to No. 8 range, it could still be a desirable offer.
The Vikings selected McCarthy at No. 10 overall in 2024, so anything lower than that could be seen as fair value, even if McCarthy’s knee injury is a concern. For the Giants, trading one top-10 pick—or even a package of picks—for McCarthy would make sense, especially if they prefer him over Ward or Sanders. Given that they may need to trade up for one of those quarterbacks anyway, offering that same package for McCarthy could be a more appealing option.
