Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio just handed a blunt message to the rest of the league about the New York Giants. He called the trade for quarterback J.J. McCarthy a “steal.” This admission comes from the man tasked with stopping the Giants offense this Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. It is a stark contrast to the noise when the deal happened in late September. Fans and pundits claimed the Giants overpaid with a 2027 fifth-round pick. Fangio says they got the better end of the deal.
The former Eagles Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb sees it differently. He appeared on a show Tuesday and said the pick at number 10 overall was a stretch. McNabb drew a direct line between McCarthy and Daniel Jones, who was drafted sixth overall in 2019. He argued that McCarthy looked efficient only because of the quick game and a strong running back corps at Michigan. McNabb warned that once defenses stop the run and bring blitzes, the young quarterback will struggle. He believes the real test is forcing McCarthy to make decisions under pressure.
The Trade Reality Check
McCarthy has silenced some critics with his play since arriving from Minnesota. He threw for 252 yards and zero turnovers in a 27-21 overtime win over the Houston Texans on Oct. 25. In the fourth quarter of a matchup versus the New Orleans Saints, he also threw for 243 yards. The Giants now sit at 4-2-1 and lead the NFC East. On Tuesday, November 3, during a media session, Heavy.com reports that Fangio noted the Giants have a “really good offense.”
Fangio praised the wideouts, tight ends, and running backs. He said the quarterback has done a nice job in a short time. He even misspoke about the pick, calling it a sixth-rounder instead of a fifth. Yahoo Sports reported that the Giants identified McCarthy as the best fit after Jaxson Dart lost his season to a knee injury in Week 2. The Vikings were willing to part with him for a low price, which Fangio thinks was a mistake by Minnesota.
Different Paths for Rivals
The Giants and Eagles are moving in opposite directions right now. The Eagles are 2-6 and riding a six-game losing streak. Future draft picks were acquired by trading stars like A.J. Brown and Cam Jurgens. Their offense ranks near the bottom of the NFL in yards and points. In contrast, the Giants are buyers and looking to add more talent before the trade deadline. McCarthy has a star receiver in Malik Nabers, who has 608 receiving yards. Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee has not had his top two receivers for the past two games due to injuries.
Fangio’s praise is a backhanded insult to the Vikings brass. It highlights how badly Minnesota mismanaged a top-10 pick. The Giants now have a young signal-caller playing at a high level for a cheap price. McNabb’s warning about the blitz is valid, but the stats show McCarthy is currently thriving. The Giants face a tough test on Sunday, but the momentum is on their side. The NFC East is wide open, and the Giants are the team to beat.
