The Big List: Most Likely QB Trade Targets for the Vikings

The “J.J. McCarthy Question” will dominate the first portion of the Minnesota Vikings’ offseason, with fans wondering if the franchise will fully commit to him for 2026 — or find a competitor to challenge the young signal-caller this summer. If general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah settles on the latter, approximately a dozen semi-notable options will be available via trade.

Minnesota’s trade-rumor QB list is long, but only a handful of names feel remotely gettable, and the fits vary wildly for Kevin O’Connell.

A disclaimer: The following list and analysis assume that players like Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Justin Herbert will not be available via trade, as some fans have shot for the stars with deep-sea fishing theories. Instead, this article focuses on realism.

Too, the Vikings could consider a free-agent option like Malik Willis, and call it good.

But this piece focuses on the trade options.

The Quarterbacks Who Could Be on Vikings Trade Ledger

A look at the Vikings’ trade options at quarterback. Players are listed in order of likelihood to join the Vikings (No. 1 = Most Likely, No. 12 = Least Likely).

12. Tua Tagovailoa

Tagovailoa is at the very bottom of this list for one main reason: he’s expensive, and the Vikings don’t have the budget for him. His cap number in 2026 is $56 million, an outrageous sum for a cash-strapped Vikings team.

However, Tagovailoa was included in the off-chance he’s a) released b) Minnesota is frisky enough to pursue a Brock Osweiler-like deal where the Vikings get fancy draft picks just to absorb Tagovailoa’s contract.

Severely unlikely but included in this article because readers might be curious about the benched Dolphins starter. In reality, Tagovailoa won’t be traded to the Vikings. Too expensive.

Tagovailoa despises Brian Flores, so that flat-lines the would-be idea as well.

11. Kirk Cousins

Like Tagovailoa, Cousins has a huge contract and cap number, making his trade path to Minnesota difficult. But Cousins also restructured his deal with the Falcons on Tuesday. Perhaps there’s a glimmer of hope for the pro-Cousins crowd.

If Minnesota can get Cousins at a reasonable price, he’s perfect for the support-McCarthy role. He already knows the offense.

Cousins ranked 30th of 35 qualifying quarterbacks per EPA/CPOE in 2025.

10. Justin Fields

Fields will be easy to get via trade, as his time in New York is kaput, or so it feels. The problem with Fields to Minnesota? Head coach Kevin O’Connell likes his quarterback to start from a baseline of passing accuracy. What’s the one knock on Fields? Passing accuracy.

9. Drew Lock

Lock had a shining moment during the 2023 season, engineering a fantastic win for the Seahawks over the Eagles. Then, that was kind of the last anybody heard from him. Lock turned 29 in November and still has a bit of a cult following among NFL fans.

If the Vikings want a guy who can fling it with arm strength out the wazoo, who can be traded for using late-round capital, Lock makes sense. It’s just that he’s never lasted long in a QB1 role.

8. Jameis Winston

Winston is under contract with the Giants through the end of 2026. He can throw 400 passing yards for breakfast, and eat pick-sixes for lunch. He’s the non-Vikings Nick Mullens.

This guy is the fit if Minnesota simply wants to re-live the Mullens era. A quarterback who can pass for volume if McCarthy gets hurt again.

7. Kyler Murray

Murray would be higher on the list — around 1 or 2 — if not for his upcoming cap numbers. His cap number in 2026 is $53 million. Minnesota does not have the budget for him. Adofo-Mensah would have to trade for Murray and immediately restructure his deal, backloading it with void years and all that fun stuff.

But don’t get it twisted. Of all the quarterbacks on this list who are gettable via trade, Murray has the highest upside. He does it all — mobility, arm strength, accuracy, and grit. He also grew up as a Vikings fan and is not shy about announcing that.

6. Jalen Milroe

Sam Darnold has latched onto the Seahawks as the forever starter, it seems. Seattle no longer needs Milroe, a 3rd-Round pick last April.

Why not ship him to Minnesota, hedging the bet against McCarthy’s future? He’s affordable and offers the mystery box.

5. Davis Mills

Mills filled in for C.J. Stroud this season, starting three games and delivering 5 touchdown passes along the way. Houston won those three games. Some Texans fans claim he’s better than Stroud.

In Minnesota, Mills would have to prove sustainability and consistency, but he feels like he should get a QB1 shot from a QB-needy team. His cap number in 2026 is eight million bucks.

4. Will Levis

Levis will be traded this offseason. He’s wasting away on the Titans’ injured reserve, and Tennessee probably saw enough from Cam Ward to offload Levis. The former 2nd-Rounder has the arm strength to be a QB1; he’s just known for wacky turnovers and undisciplined play.

At Kevin O’Connell’s school of quarterbacking, Levis might cook.

3. Spencer Rattler

Rattler has virtually the same EPA+CPOE as Caleb Williams this season, but nobody cares because Williams and the Bears are going to the playoffs, and Rattler was benched for Tyler Shough, the Saints’ 2nd-Round rookie.

Somewhere, Rattler probably deserves one more look as QB1. He’d fit well with a team that has good bones: defense, running game, WR-TE weaponry. Checks notes — that’s the Vikings.

2. Anthony Richardson

The Colts signed Phillip Rivers before they’d give Anthony Richardson a look. Indianapolis also seems to be on track to re-sign Daniel Jones and was impressed by rookie Riley Leonard in Week 18.

Richardson is in the Levis boat — arm strength and upside. He’ll turn 24 this offseason. O’Connell would have to decide if he can fix Richardson. The two notably embraced after a Vikings-Colts game in 2024, with O’Connell telling him that he believed in him.

1. Mac Jones

This guy is perfect — absolutely perfect — for the Vikings’ current situation. Jones took over the 49ers’ starting job when Brock Purdy got hurt this season and promptly balled out.

To a 17-game sample, he put up these numbers:

That’s basically Sam Darnold.

Jones would know his role as McCarthy’s backup, if applicable, and be ready to start if McCarthy were ousted as QB1. The former 1st-Rounder may be the next reclamation story akin to Darnold and Baker Mayfield.

But will the 49ers trade him, given Purdy’s injury history? If so, a 3rd-Rounder would probably do the trick.

Jones’ cap number in 2026 is $2.5 million, perfectly balancing Minnesota’s need for a cap-friendly passer.