If you’re a Vikings fan daydreaming about Joe Burrow in purple and gold next season, it might be time to wake up.
The idea of Minnesota swinging a blockbuster deal for the Bengals’ franchise quarterback has been floating around the rumor mill lately, stirring up some offseason buzz. But let’s be real - that fantasy isn’t getting out of the group chat.
Cincinnati running back Chase Brown put a pretty definitive stamp on things when he spoke with CBS Sports. Asked about the idea of Burrow heading elsewhere - like, say, Minneapolis - Brown didn’t hesitate.
“Joe’s not going anywhere,” he said. “I think [his end-of-season comments were] totally blown out of proportion.
It was definitely a good talking point for people... It gave the media a lot to talk about and probably made [Burrow’s] Twitter notifications go off, but Joe’s not going anywhere.”
That’s about as clear as it gets from someone inside the Bengals’ locker room. Despite Burrow voicing frustration after a disappointing end to the 2025 season, there’s no indication from anyone in Cincinnati that they’re even entertaining the idea of moving on from their franchise cornerstone.
And really, why would they? Burrow is still one of the league’s elite quarterbacks, and when healthy, he gives the Bengals a shot at contending every year. Trading him - especially to a team outside the AFC - would be a seismic move that just doesn’t line up with how Cincinnati operates.
So where does that leave Minnesota?
Back to reality. The Vikings still have a quarterback conundrum to solve, and it won’t be fixed by a dream trade for Burrow.
The more likely scenario? J.J.
McCarthy running it back as the Week 1 starter in 2026.
That’s not to say the Vikings shouldn’t explore adding a more experienced quarterback to the mix. Whether it’s as injury insurance or a midseason pivot if McCarthy struggles, having a proven veteran on the roster would make a lot of sense - especially for a team trying to stay competitive in a tough NFC North.
But here’s the kicker: Minnesota is staring down a projected $50 million salary cap overage heading into the 2026 season. That kind of financial strain limits the splashy moves they can make, particularly at the most expensive position in football.
So while there’s still time this offseason for things to shift - trades, restructures, surprise releases - the odds of Joe Burrow walking into the Vikings’ facility as QB1 are about as likely as Patrick Mahomes or Joe Montana doing the same.
For now, the Vikings need to focus on what’s in front of them: developing McCarthy, building a more stable quarterback room, and finding creative ways to manage the cap. Because unless something truly wild happens, Burrow’s staying put in Cincinnati - and Minnesota’s path forward won’t involve a miracle trade.