QB-needy Giants should pursue J.J. McCarthy trade with Vikings

New York: The Vikings really shouldn’t let J.J. McCarthy go. Sam Darnold has been playing great this season, but unless they make it to the Super Bowl, they don’t need to choose between the two just yet. They could tag Darnold, which is doable with their $77 million cap space, and see how he performs for another year before making any big decisions.

It’s a bit of a win-win situation, right?

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the Vikings’ GM, will keep his phone lines open, as all GMs do. Depending on how things go in their upcoming game against the Eagles, the Giants should definitely reach out. They need a quarterback for next season, and going after McCarthy makes a lot of sense.

Shedeur Sanders has been the talk of the town for the Giants ever since their season went downhill. After a rough patch, they’re now eyeing Colorado’s quarterback. They could really use his confidence and skills to breathe new life into their struggling team.

Only two losses kept the Giants from Sanders: the Colts and Eagles. They managed to beat the Colts last weekend, which messed with their draft pick control. Now, they’re up against a Philadelphia team that’s likely resting most of their starters.

Currently, the Giants hold the No. 4 pick. If they win against the Eagles, they could drop to No. 8.

Getting Sanders at No. 8? Not happening. Plus, if other QB-needy teams snag the top spots, they won’t be able to trade up for him. So, instead of reaching for someone like Jalen Milroe or Quinn Ewers, why not offer the No. 8 pick to Minnesota and grab McCarthy?

SNY has talked to several talent evaluators in the NFL, and they all agree that if McCarthy were in this draft class, he’d be the top-rated quarterback.

One evaluator mentioned that while he wasn’t on the same level as Caleb Williams or Drake Maye, this year he’d definitely be the best option. McCarthy’s college stats weren’t stellar, but that was more about the system he played in than his talent.

Michigan relied heavily on their running game, so they didn’t need McCarthy to carry the team. But he’s shown he can do it when called upon. His leadership and skills have impressed everyone who’s worked with him.

This year, he played one preseason game, going 11-of-17 for 188 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception. Unfortunately, he got a season-ending knee injury, but it’s not expected to affect his long-term prospects.

The Giants had a shot at drafting McCarthy last year but opted for receiver Malik Nabers instead. They clearly had their doubts about him back then. But now, it’s about whether they like him more than the current options, and he could be the best choice.

Again, Minnesota shouldn’t trade McCarthy. The smart move is to tag Darnold, give him another shot, and then figure out the best path forward.

This situation isn’t like when the Giants had to decide on Daniel Jones. They didn’t have the nearly $80 million in cap space that the Vikings do now. If they tagged Jones, they’d be stuck in free agency. Minnesota can tag Darnold and still make moves to improve their roster.

But that shouldn’t stop the Giants from making a call. They really need a quarterback.

They should do whatever it takes to land the best one.