With the Nov. 10 trade deadline closing in, the Vikings are suddenly getting dragged into quarterback speculation from multiple directions. The reason is simple: Minnesota has a defense that looks built to win right now, but the quarterback play hasn’t matched it. Kyler Murray has struggled badly this season and is now injured, and that has only sharpened the conversation around whether the Vikings need to make a move.
Amazon Prime Video’s James Palmer said the Vikings haven’t given up on Murray, but “that does not mean they won’t address the quarterback position.”
Then Adam Schefter turned up the heat even more on Friday, saying on his podcast that Minnesota is a team he’s watching closely for a quarterback trade.
“With everything, I’m watching the Vikings quarterback position,” Schefter said. “I’m watching the Vikings quarterback position. Especially when they have an all-world defense that’s good enough to win a Super Bowl.
“Where they need the quarterback to play well. Where they need the offense to produce. Again, with everything going on, I’m watching the Vikings quarterback position.”
Put those comments together, and Minnesota has to be treated like a real player in the quarterback market. If the Vikings do go shopping, there are a few names that make sense on paper.
Kirk Cousins is one. He’s on borrowed time as the starter in Las Vegas because Fernando Mendoza is there and could take over as soon as this year.
But the Raiders are 4-4, and that makes them a tough team to pry him away from unless Minnesota is willing to overpay. If Las Vegas believes Mendoza isn’t ready yet, that price could climb even higher.
Still, Cousins has been solid this season, and his two years in Kevin O’Connell’s offense would make him an easy fit.
Daniel Jones is another possibility, especially if Indianapolis really is heading into a fire sale as it resets the roster. In that kind of situation, almost anything could be available. Jones has had a rough season, but he does have some familiarity with Minnesota’s offense from his brief stint there in 2024, and a different environment might help him get back on track.
Then there’s Mac Jones. Of the quarterbacks on this list, he may be the easiest to imagine moving because he’s a backup, even if he’s a strong one.
The former No. 15 overall pick rebuilt some of his value in San Francisco after playing excellent football last season when Brock Purdy was injured. The 49ers have said they don’t want to trade him, but as the Jeffery Simmons deal to the Bears showed, the right offer can change plenty.
And if Minnesota wants to swing big, Justin Herbert is the headline-grabber. The Chargers are sitting at 0-7 and look like a mess, though reports say they don’t appear eager to move him.
Even so, the Vikings should at least ask. Herbert has been borderline elite before, and he could be the kind of quarterback who benefits from a fresh start after a difficult season.
In Other News...
Justin Jeffersons Frustration Sums Up A Bigger Vikings Problem
Justin Jefferson did not hide his frustration after Minnesotas 19-15 loss to the Detroit Lions, a game that left the Vikings staring at another night of missed chances and empty possessions. The star receiver pointed to the offenses lack of execution, which has become a familiar issue when the margin is this thin, and his comments carried the tone of a player who knows the unit has enough talent to be better than the results have shown.
The bigger concern now is how the Vikings respond with the quarterback situation in flux after Kyler Murray went down with a hamstring injury in the game. Jefferson made a point to back Murray, while head coach Kevin OConnells decision to punt late added another layer to a loss already defined by caution and missed opportunity, with Carson Wentz expected to take over next against the Buffalo Bills. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings QB Frustration Has Kirk Cousins Back In The Conversation
The Vikings quarterback conversation has drifted back to an old familiar name as frustration grows around the position. With offensive struggles continuing and injuries piling up around Kyler Murray, some fans have started revisiting the idea of Kirk Cousins, who spent six seasons in Minnesota before moving on nearly three years ago.
It is the kind of speculation that usually says more about the present than the past. Cousins possible return is not a confirmed plan, just a reflection of how unsettled the quarterback situation feels right now, and how quickly a former starter can re-enter the discussion when the current options leave people searching for answers. [Read more 🡒]
Justin Jefferson Sounds Alarm On Vikings Offense At Worst Time
Justin Jefferson did not hide his frustration after Minnesotas loss to Detroit, and for good reason. The Vikings offense has too much talent to keep sputtering at this stage of the season, and Jefferson made it clear the issue is less about effort than execution. When a team is trying to position itself for the postseason, every missed opportunity starts to feel bigger, especially for a receiver who expects the group to play to its ceiling.
The timing makes the concern even sharper with Carson Wentz set to start the upcoming game while Kyler Murray remains sidelined by a hamstring injury. Jeffersons confidence in the quarterback room is one thing, but Minnesota still has to turn that belief into cleaner football on the field. The Vikings do not have much time to sort out their offensive problems, and the way they respond now could say a lot about how dangerous they can be once the postseason arrives. [Read more 🡒]