After a 2025 season that unraveled largely due to inconsistent quarterback play, the Minnesota Vikings are heading into the offseason with a clear objective: fix the most important position on the field. Head coach Kevin O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah didn’t completely close the door on J.J. McCarthy during their end-of-season pressers, but their comments made one thing clear - change is coming to the quarterback room.
McCarthy, the highly touted rookie, struggled to find his rhythm in 2025, and while the organization isn’t ready to give up on him entirely, they’ve made it known that competition is on the way. The Vikings could dip into free agency, but the current crop of available quarterbacks doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. They’ve explored the trade market too - including a bold, unsuccessful attempt to land Drake Maye - but finding a willing partner is proving to be a challenge.
That’s where Joe Burrow enters the conversation. Or, more accurately, where Vikings fans have placed him.
The Bengals quarterback has become the subject of offseason speculation, fueled by online buzz and whispers about his level of satisfaction in Cincinnati. Whether that smoke leads to fire is anyone’s guess, but the Vikings’ quarterback situation has reached a point where it might be “Burrow or bust.”
And it’s not hard to see why Burrow would be the dream scenario. The 29-year-old is a bona fide star - a former Heisman winner, national champion, and one of the NFL’s most marketable faces.
His production speaks for itself, and his swagger is tailor-made for a franchise looking to reestablish itself as a contender. Oh, and his top target during that historic 2019 LSU season?
None other than Justin Jefferson.
With Jefferson’s patience reportedly wearing thin, adding Burrow could be the move that keeps the Vikings’ best player happy while simultaneously unlocking the full potential of an offense that still believes it’s one elite quarterback away from making a serious playoff run.
But wanting Burrow and needing Burrow are two very different things. And right now, Minnesota might be teetering dangerously close to the latter.
McCarthy’s development remains a question mark, and while he wasn’t solely responsible for the 2025 collapse, the contrast between his struggles and Sam Darnold’s late-season success didn’t help matters. The front office now finds itself under pressure to deliver - not just for the fans, but likely from ownership as well.
And the options? They’re already starting to thin out.
Take Mac Jones, for example. The 49ers quarterback has emerged as a potential trade target after filling in admirably for Brock Purdy this season. His numbers - 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, six interceptions - won’t blow anyone away, but he showed enough to intrigue a team like Minnesota, especially given O’Connell’s history of finding value in castoffs like Darnold.
But 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan poured cold water on that idea this week, telling reporters he’d be “very surprised” if Jones were moved.
“You always listen to people with trade offers,” Shanahan said. “But we’re not into getting rid of good players.”
Translation: Jones isn’t likely to be available - or if he is, it’ll cost more than Minnesota should be willing to pay. And for a team that’s still trying to restock its roster with young talent, giving up a second-round pick (or more) for a quarterback with a limited ceiling might be a step in the wrong direction.
Then there’s Kyler Murray. The Cardinals could be nearing the end of their relationship with the former No. 1 pick, and some believe they might even consider cutting him loose if the right trade offer doesn’t materialize.
But the Vikings won’t be alone in that pursuit. The Steelers, for one, are reportedly intrigued - and with a new head coach in Mike McCarthy and a war chest of draft picks, Pittsburgh might be in a better position to make a deal.
The Vikings do have some ammunition - they hold the No. 82 overall pick and are projected to receive a third-round compensatory pick for Darnold’s departure. But the Steelers have even more capital to play with, including a third-rounder acquired in the George Pickens trade and another compensatory pick. That kind of flexibility could make all the difference in a bidding war.
If Murray and Jones are off the table, things get murkier. Tua Tagovailoa carries a massive $56.2 million cap hit next season and has a complicated history with Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, making that pairing unlikely.
Lamar Jackson? The Ravens just chose him over longtime head coach John Harbaugh - he’s not going anywhere.
Justin Herbert? The Chargers didn’t bring in Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator just to ship him out.
And Kirk Cousins, once the face of the franchise, might be staying put in Atlanta, especially with Michael Penix Jr.’s injury concerns and his past connection to Kevin Stefanski.
Even Daniel Jones - who turned down the Vikings last offseason - appears to be leaning toward Indianapolis again. That leaves Minnesota staring down a list of names that includes Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, and Marcus Mariota. Not exactly a group that screams “franchise savior.”
All of this circles back to McCarthy. Whether the Vikings like it or not, they may have no choice but to roll the dice on his development.
He’ll need to make significant strides - refining his accuracy, tightening his footwork, and growing into the leadership role - all in one offseason. It’s been done before (just ask Josh Allen or Drake Maye), but it’s a massive ask.
And with jobs potentially on the line, it’s a bet that comes with serious risk.
That’s why Burrow remains the dream scenario. If he were to wake up tomorrow and decide he’s done with Cincinnati, Minnesota would almost certainly be first in line.
But even then, they’d be dealing with an organization that once let Carson Palmer sit out an entire year before finally trading him. The Bengals don’t move quickly - or cheaply.
Depending on one player to solve all your problems is a dangerous game. But with the quarterback market already tightening and the pressure mounting, the Vikings may have no choice but to go all-in on a Burrow blockbuster - or brace themselves for another year of quarterback roulette.