The Minnesota Vikings aren’t in a position to pay a quarterback huge money in 2026, but that could change if one of the game’s best enters the market.
JJ McCarthy is dealing with a hairline fracture in his throwing hand, which is the fourth serious injury of his two-year NFL career. He was playing better before sustaining the broken bone, but he hasn’t been reliable enough from a health prospective, or from a playing perspective when on the field, for Minnesota to feel great about his longterm prospects.
Adding a player like veteran Joe Flacco as McCarthy insurance, or picking up someone like Malik Willis in free agency or Anthony Richardson via trade to compete with McCarthy makes the most sense financially.
That type of relatively inexpensive, short-term move vibes with the kick-the-can style of QB decision that GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell made early in their Vikings tenures with the likes of Kirk Cousins.
But Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports on Saturday, December 27 named Minnesota as a potential player in the Joe Burrow trade sweepstakes should his market develop this offseason. And in that case, $36 million salary cap deficit or not, the Vikings may have to throw past trends, tendencies and practical financial reasoning out the window to get in the game for one of the best four or five quarterbacks in all of football.
Joe Burrow Has Been Open About Recent Unhappiness
GettyCincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
Swap Burrow for Sam Darnold last season, and what might the Vikings (14-3 and one game out of the No. 1 seed) have accomplished? The same question is worth considering in the context of Burrow and the 2025 roster instead of McCarthy.
Jones mentioned Minnesota, along with a handful of other teams, in his examination of Burrow’s theoretical trade market beginning in March 2026.
“Burrow said two weeks ago he wasn’t having any fun playing football and was frustrated by everything,” Jones wrote. “Last week, after being officially eliminated from the playoffs, Burrow didn’t deny letting his mind think about not finishing his career in Cincinnati.”
“The Steelers, Colts, Rams and Vikings could also all be in need of a quarterback depending upon how the early offseason plays out,” Jones continued.
Joe Burrow Among NFL’s Best QBs When Healthy
GettyQuarterback Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Burrow, a former Super Bowl starter, is a two-time NFL Comeback Player of the Year and a two-time Pro Bowler who has finished fourth in MVP voting twice in his six-year pro career.
He has led the league at least once in pass attempts and completions, as well as completion percentage, passing yardage and passing TDs. Burrow has amassed 20,269 passing yards on a 68.3 percent career completion rate, adding 152 TDs and 50 INTs.
The Bengals QB is 29 years old and playing on a $275 million extension that keeps him under contract through 2029.
Jones noted that his trade value is in the range of three first-round picks, and then some, which combined with his salary renders Burrow extraordinarily expensive. That is potentially a concern, as he missed six games during his rookie campaign, seven contests in 2023 and will sit out at least 10 games this year due to injury issues.
But no team without an elite QB already under contract can ignore the potential availability of a generational talent still in his prime. Thus, if Burrow forces his way into the trade market, and/or if the Bengals decide to explore their options, the Vikings are likely to take a hard look.
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