MN Vikings Still Targeting QB Help; Can’t Rule Out JJ McCarthy Trade

The Minnesota Vikings found their quarterback for 2026, even if they are telling media insiders like Tom Pelissero that Kyler Murray will have to compete with JJ McCarthy for the starting job.

In all reality, Murray doesn’t come here unless he sees it as the best path to playing time, and to showcase a 2.0 version of his QB self so he can get paid again in 2027, when the checks from Arizona stop coming. And if Kyler were to fall behind McCarthy on the depth chart, it would undoubtedly cost him tens of millions of dollars.

So unless Kyler Murray suffers an injury, or something goes uncategorically wrong between now and week one of the 2026 season, K1 will be the Vikings 2026 starter from day one. And despite what they are selling publicly, Minnesota Vikings decision-makers are proving my point with their actions.

Kyler Murray at his worst has been better than what the Vikings' collective QBs produced last year. https://t.co/s6ldAlVLWO

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) March 13, 2026

Signing a 28-year-old quarterback who has four 3700+ yard passing seasons and two Pro Bowls under his belt sends a clear message to McCarthy. See, Kyler Murray isn’t 42 years old like Aaron Rodgers, 37 like Kirk Cousins or even 35 (Geno Smith).

And he sure as hell isn’t here to hold a spot for struggling 23-year-old. The NFL is a ruthless profession and, in case JJ hasn’t realized it yet, Kyler is coming here with the sole purpose of taking his job.

Could Minnesota Vikings be open to JJ McCarthy trade?

Given how unlikely it is that McCarthy actually pulls off an offseason miracle and wins the starting job at training camp, it’s worth wondering if the MN Vikings might consider trading their 2024 No. 10 overall pick.

If the Vikings look like they are ready to move on, it could make sense to just get him out of the building, where he can focus on what’s next and TCO Performance Center isn’t overpowered by McCarthy vs Murray chatter all summer.

Related: Vikings Won’t Tag Kyler Murray Next Offseason

Minnesota Vikings beat writer Alec Lewis (The Athletic) broached this topic in a recent piece, where he wrote that, while a JJ McCarthy trade still feels somewhat unlikely, it “can’t be ruled out”.

Should a team come to the Vikings with a trade offer requisite of McCarthy’s age and talent level, Vikings brass would have no choice but to seriously consider cutting ties. Additionally, and more likely, would be McCarthy’s camp requesting a trade, which Alec also touched on.

Would the Vikings consider trading McCarthy?

This cannot be completely ruled out. Two factors matter in the overall calculus: How perturbed are McCarthy and his camp by the Murray signing? And what would other teams offer?

Trading McCarthy would leave no murkiness around the hierarchy in the quarterback room. The Vikings invested too much in McCarthy, though, to pull the plug for anything other than top-tier compensation.

McCarthy seeking another destination could introduce a different layer of decision-making. Minnesota likes to respond amicably to players’ desires (i.e., Jonathan Greenard’s trade circumstances). But leverage tends to matter in these situations, too, and McCarthy remains under contract for at least two more seasons.

Alec Lewis – The Athletic

Minnesota’s supposed openness to a JJ McCarthy trade isn’t the only evidence out there that the Vikings believe in McCarthy to the degree that they declare publicly. Even more telling, is the fact that they aren’t done bringing in veteran quarterback help.

MN Vikings looking to add more talent to QB room

It’s not the first time we’ve heard this, but Alec Lewis confirmed this weekend that the Minnesota Vikings remain interested in bringing Carson Wentz back into the quarterback fold for 2026, just in case Murray gets hurt and JJ McCarthy remains unready.

If Wentz gets healthy enough to land a better opportunity than Vikings 2nd or 3rd string QB, Lewis believes Minnesota would turn attention to veterans further down the QB totem pole, specifically mentioning 38-year-old Andy Dalton as their next target, followed by Tyrod Taylor (36) — should they get that desperate.

Related: MN Vikings WR Fires Stray at Patriots CB on Social Media

But Lewis doesn’t stop there. He even leaves the door open for O’Connell to add yet another young, promising quarterback into the MN Vikings’ 2026 QB mix — Anthony Richardson (23) and Zach Wilson (26).

Will the Vikings think about adding another veteran QB behind Murray?

It would be a surprise if the Vikings didn’t…

…Carson Wentz, who played 300 snaps for the Vikings in 2025, would be the likeliest candidate. There is familiarity and mutual interest between the two sides. If Wentz were to sign elsewhere, the Vikings could turn to Andy Dalton, whom the Panthers may be willing to part with after signing Kenny Pickett.

Other veterans, like Tyrod Taylor, are available. Because O’Connell loves a quarterback project, it’s also difficult to rule out former highly-drafted options like Anthony Richardson and Zach Wilson.

Alec Lewis – The Athletic

Related: Vikings’ High Price Disappointment Lands with New Team

I appreciate the Minnesota Vikings’ determination to avoid the same kind of depth quarterback problems that imploded their 2025 season. I could just do without the effort to protect McCarthy’s feelings.

If you make him the NO. 3 QB or trade him away, there will be no shielding him from reality. Eventually, the kid QB will have to face the music.

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