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The New York Giants' 2026 NFL regular season keeps being full of surprises. Through Week 6, few expected them to be in first place in the NFC East with a 3-2-1 record. Also, in Week 7, they will be turning to their third starting quarterback: J.J. McCarthy.
When Jaxson Dart went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 2, Jameis Winston was the only real option to replace him at QB. But that changed one week later when the Giants traded a 2027 fifth-round draft pick to acquire McCarthy from the Vikings.
The No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 draft has gone from being buried on Minnesota's depth chart to New York's No. 1 for this Sunday's game at Houston. McCarthy did enough in a rallying relief effort in last Sunday's home loss to New Orleans to displace Winston.
McCarthy was sharper than Winston throwing the ball downfield, protected the ball better and provided an immediate rushing element Winston didn't. Winston wasn't providing the passing floor needed to win games. That made the Giants go with the younger QB with the higher ceiling.
Can the Giants still win the division with J.J. McCarthy at QB?
Based on the latest odds to win the NFC East via Bet365, the Cowboys are the new favorites (+120). The Giants are second (+210), well ahead of the 1-4-1 last-place Commanders (+500). The Eagles have gone from heavy preseason repeat favorites to having the worst odds (+550) in the wake of the season-ending blood clot concern with Jalen Hurts.
The Giants have the 11th "easiest" schedule based on the combined winning strength of their remaining 11 opponents, but on paper, the Eagles (9th), Commanders (4th) and Dallas (3rd) still have it easier. The Giants are big underdogs at the Texans, but then should be favored in back-to-back division games with the Eagles and Commanders.
The Cowboys would seem to have the quarterback edge in the division with Dak Prescott, but he's struggled with turnovers while trying to make up for a bad defense. Jayden Daniels keeps flashing, but the Commanders have key offensive injuries (Terry McLaurin, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Laremy Tunsil) piling up around him. For now, McCarthy gives the Giants a slight edge at QB over theTanner McKee-led Eagles.
Looking forward, the Giants have six very winnable games out of 11. The exceptions are games against the Texans, Jaguars, 49ers, Seahawks, Lions and Cowboys, the latter two on the road before finishing in a home rematch with the Eagles.
McCarthy gives them a chance in the favorable matchups. He can't solve Giants' running game and defensive issues, but the Giants' new-look potent passing game, with a healthy Malik Nabers and mismatch-creating tight end Isaiah Likely, gives them a chance against lesser foes. The Giants are looking at a finish around 9 wins, which may be enough to win the division in this down year. It helps that the Giants already beat the Cowboys in Week 1 and the Cowboys' defense has proved it can let the team down against anyone.
What does this mean for J.J. McCarthy's role with the Giants in 2027?
Winston is under contract through 2028 after signing a two-year, $13 million extension on Sept. 7. McCarthy has one final year on his Vikings rookie contract in 2027. Between both quarterbacks, there would be only a combined salary cap hit of a little more than $11 million, while Dart will cost only $4.6 million in the third year of his rookie contract.
The Giants can sit with having all three quarterbacks on the roster in '27, so McCarthy has a big opportunity in the rest of '26 to emerge as Dart's surefire top backup and contingency plan for next season and beyond. The Giants can get out of Winston's deal before '28 and then will need to decide whether to re-sign McCarthy for a third season or more.
McCarthy's downfield arm strength, mobility and youth make him a better alternative to run the same offense minus Dart. McCarthy and Dart are both 23, so having the 32-year-old Winston still in the QB room for another year will be valuable experience.
At first glance, the Giants may have made a questionable move to add McCarthy. But given the low price and the Vikings' eagerness to move him, it's looking like a smart flyer in more ways than one.
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