The New York Giants made a bold move to secure J.J. McCarthy after losing Jaxson Dart for the season. General manager Joe Schoen recently opened up about the thinking behind the deal with the Minnesota Vikings. He explained that the team felt good about trading a Day 3 pick to get the young quarterback. This shift happened fast after Dart went down with a season-ending injury in Week 2.
Schoen spoke during an Oct. 29 video from “Move the Sticks with Daniel Jeremiah.” He told the NFL Network host that the Giants did their homework before pulling the trigger on the trade. The organization wanted a player they knew well and trusted to lead the offense.
Knowing the Player Inside and Out
Schoen said the Giants spent a lot of time with McCarthy before the draft started. They looked at his skills on the field and off it. “We were able to spend a lot of time with J.J. leading up to the draft and got to know him on a personal level,” Schoen told NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, according to Heavy.com. This deep dive gave the front office confidence that McCarthy could handle the pressure of the Big Apple.
McCarthy passed every test. He showed off a strong arm during a private workout that impressed the staff. The numbers back this up, as he has thrown for 495 yards and one touchdown in his last two games, per reports. He also posted a passer rating of 95.2 while taking over the starting role from Jameis Winston.
The Timing of the Call
The window to make a deal opened early in the season. Schoen noted that it was not the usual time to call about a backup quarterback. “At that time of the year, it was early. It was after [Week] 2 when you started making these calls,” Schoen added. Most teams hold tight to their second-stringers because the season is long and injuries happen often.
However, the Vikings were willing to move McCarthy since he was third on their depth chart behind Carson Wentz and Kyler Murray. Giants staff called Nolan Teasley to start the talks. They managed to get a deal done before the season got too deep. The Giants needed a player with a winning record and a fresh start in mind.
A Clean Slate for Success
Former NFL head coach Jason Garrett believes this trade gives McCarthy the chance he needed. He thinks the change of scenery is the key to unlocking the quarterback’s potential. During an Oct. 30 appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show,” Garrett stated, “Sometimes it’s about a clean slate.” He noted that players often struggle when expectations are too high right from the start.
McCarthy was 6-4 as a starter last year at just 23 years old. He has the size and the arm strength to make this work in New York. The Giants are now 4-2-1 and leading the NFC East. Schoen and the team hope that this fresh start turns into a playoff run for the franchise. The next test comes on Sunday, Nov. 8, when the Giants face the Philadelphia Eagles.
