At a moment when the Vikings are reportedly discussing a trade for running back Jonathan Taylor, they ought to shift the conversation.
The name that should be on the table is Daniel Jones.
That idea started as a half-joke after Sunday’s 19-15 loss to the Lions, but it looks a lot more serious after watching the way the game unraveled. Justin Jefferson showed rare frustration late. Even more telling, coach Kevin O’Connell flashed visible irritation while talking to quarterback Kyler Murray after an ugly interception late in the first half.
The point is simple: the Vikings should move on from the idea that Murray is good enough.
Jones is not a long-term solution for Indianapolis, and the Colts are in a position where moving him now would fit the broader reset they appear to be beginning. They already dealt guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, and Jones could be part of the same effort to clear the deck and gather picks for the next general manager.
If they trade him in the early days of the new league year in March, they can avoid more than $10 million of his $38 million compensation package for 2027. But they could also get more now from a contender that sees him as an immediate upgrade.
Minnesota fits that description.
The Vikings had Jones in the building two years ago after he was released by the Giants. By all appearances, they wanted to keep him for 2025 more than they wanted to keep Sam Darnold. There were even whispers about a possible benching of Darnold for Jones in the 2024 postseason.
That history matters because the current quarterback situation has become impossible to ignore. O’Connell and G.M.
Nolan Teasley need to take a hard, honest look at what they’re getting from Murray. The fact that they chose Murray over J.J.
McCarthy should not matter now. Teams get stuck when they let pride keep them from admitting a mistake.
The rest of the roster makes the case even stronger. The defense is championship-caliber, largely because of Brian Flores.
The running game is good enough. What the offense lacks is a quarterback who can be trusted when the moment gets tight.
Sunday’s fourth-and-5 decision with 3:01 left said plenty. Facing fourth down from their own 33 and trailing by four after Detroit had powered into the lead, O’Connell chose to punt rather than ask the offense to gain five yards in a must-have spot. That call reflected confidence in the defense, but it also revealed a lack of faith in the quarterback.
That is the real issue.
If O’Connell doesn’t believe the offense under Murray can convert five yards with the game on the line, then the Vikings should not keep handing the offense to Murray.
Whether the answer is Jones or someone else - Carson Wentz is another possibility - the Vikings need to start looking everywhere. Call the Raiders about Kirk Cousins, even if they probably shouldn’t move him.
Call the Chargers about Justin Herbert. Check every depth chart and do the work.
The Vikings moved quickly when Cousins suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon just before the trade deadline in 2023. They should be just as aggressive now if they want to make the most of their 6-0 start and finish as strongly as possible.
The defense is there. The run game is there. The quarterback play is not.
In Other News...
Vikings Could Make A Costly Deadline Swing At Running Back
The running back market could get expensive before the NFL trade deadline, and Minnesota has been mentioned among the teams keeping a close eye on it. With injuries and depth concerns driving interest around the league, the Vikings are one of several clubs exploring help at the position, while Indianapolis has made it clear it may not be eager to move Jonathan Taylor without a meaningful return.
For Minnesota, the question is whether the price tag matches the urgency. League chatter has linked the Vikings and the Giants to the same search for backfield help, but any deal for Taylor would likely require a significant package and would force a team to weigh present needs against future draft capital. Nothing is finalized, and Taylors situation in Indianapolis remains unresolved, which leaves the deadline picture very much in flux. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Taylor Trade Talk Just Put The Colts On The Spot
Minnesotas first loss of the season has only sharpened the conversation around how this offense wants to win when the passing game is not carrying the load. The Vikings have looked dangerous enough to keep the pressure on opponents, but the debate now is whether they need a more reliable rushing presence to round out the attack and give the offense a clearer identity.
That is why the trade chatter around Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylor has started to feel more than hypothetical, even if nothing official is in place. Any serious pursuit would come with real hurdles, from the cost in draft capital to the cap math needed to make it work, and those are the kinds of obstacles that can stall a splashy idea before it ever reaches the finish line. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Suddenly Have A Much Bigger Offensive Debate Than Expected
Minnesotas first loss of the season did not knock it off the top of the NFC North, but it did sharpen the conversation around an offense that has been lagging behind the rest of the roster. At 6-1, the Vikings still have one of the leagues best defenses under Brian Flores, yet the attack has been stuck near the bottom of the NFL in both total offense and touchdowns, a jarring split for a team built to contend.
The result is a much bigger quarterback debate than anyone expected this early in the year, with outside chatter already turning to whether Minnesota should explore a major move to stabilize the position. The timing makes the discussion even more intriguing because the answer could reshape the rest of the season, and the Vikings now have to decide whether to trust the current setup or start thinking more aggressively about a proven veteran option. [Read more 🡒]