The Vikings’ quarterback decision has opened a door that Tampa Bay probably can’t ignore.
Minnesota has turned to Kyler Murray as its starter, leaving JJ McCarthy in the backup role after he entered the summer healthy and had already gone 6-4 in 10 starts in 2025. That move changes the picture not just in Minneapolis, but for any team looking ahead at the quarterback market - and the Buccaneers have a pretty obvious reason to pay attention.
Baker Mayfield is still the guy in Tampa Bay for 2026, but his contract is set to expire after this season. He said in June that the two sides were “not anywhere close” on a long-term deal. That kind of uncertainty is exactly why Jason Licht should be thinking ahead instead of waiting for next spring to sort out the future.
McCarthy gives Tampa Bay something worth considering: a young quarterback with real traits, a cheap contract, and enough starting experience to make the idea more than a blind swing. His first season in Minnesota was wiped out by a severe preseason knee injury, but once he got on the field in his second year, he flashed the intermediate accuracy, mobility and situational toughness that made him a top-10 draft pick. Over those 10 starts, he threw for 1,632 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The rough edges were there too. McCarthy also had 12 interceptions and had trouble pushing the ball downfield, which helped push Minnesota toward a veteran answer. Murray won the job because Kevin O'Connell believed he gives the Vikings the best chance to win right now.
That doesn’t mean McCarthy is suddenly easy to pry loose. He’s under contract for two more seasons, and Minnesota still has control of a quarterback with real developmental value. The Vikings also have reason to be cautious, since Murray is only signed through 2026 and McCarthy has already said he was disappointed about losing the job while still wanting to stay in Minnesota.
Still, if Tampa Bay wants to get serious, there’s a trade structure that makes sense.
Vikings receive: Tampa Bay's 2027 third-round pick A conditional 2027 fourth-round pick that escalates to a second-round selection if McCarthy starts at least eight games or plays at least 50 percent of the offensive snaps in 2026 or 2027.
That kind of deal gives Minnesota something real without asking Tampa Bay to empty the cupboard. If McCarthy never becomes the starter and Mayfield stays in place beyond 2026, the Buccaneers would have given up a third-rounder and a Day 3 pick. That’s manageable.
If McCarthy eventually takes over and becomes the answer in Tampa, though, the price becomes a bargain. The Buccaneers would be paying for a potential long-term fix at the league’s most important position.
For Minnesota, the appeal is the draft capital and the flexibility. If Murray works out and McCarthy’s path to the lineup stays blocked, the Vikings can turn a tricky situation into assets that grow in value. If they believe McCarthy could develop elsewhere without hurting their own plans, the timing may be worth discussing.
The point is not that Tampa Bay should chase McCarthy because he lost a competition. It’s that the circumstances around that competition have made him available in a way that could fit the Buccaneers’ timeline. Mayfield is still central to the offense, but if the contract talks keep dragging, Tampa Bay may need to think bigger.
McCarthy is young, affordable and gifted. He’s already shown he can win games in the NFL. And the longer the Buccaneers wait at quarterback, the more expensive that search can become.
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Todd Bowles has already pointed to the second preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs as the point when Tampa Bays starters are expected to play, with rookie Rueben Bain Jr. also slated to make his debut. What remains unsettled is how much work the first unit will actually get, and that choice could land anywhere from a brief tune-up to a more extended run before the preseason schedule keeps moving. [Read more 🡒]