The Minnesota Vikings have a few different paths they could take to solidify the quarterback room heading into next season, which was arguably the most problematic position for the team in 2025.
JJ McCarthy fluctuated between unplayable and borderline competent for much of the season, with a couple of outstanding outlier performances early and a bit more development and on-field consistency late. From a health perspective, however, he sustained three major injuries and will finish the campaign with either nine or ten starts, though most likely the former.
Following an entire year on the sidelines in 2024 due to a preseason knee injury, Minnesota must consider insurance and/or alternative starting options outside of McCarthy moving forward. A more modest trade or free agency signing is the best bet, considering the franchise’s tendencies under general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, which have been to avoid major financial commitments over multi-year deals to veteran players on their second or third contracts.
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That said, a couple of elite-level quarterbacks from the AFC North Division could become possible trade targets in 2026. Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals has expressed general discontent with how his NFL career is going in recent weeks, though he is a longer shot to become available than Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens — at least by next spring.
“The Ravens have to do something with Lamar Jackson’s contract or move on,” Dan Graziano of ESPN wrote December 24. “He has two years left at $51.25 million per year in base salary, but none of his remaining money is guaranteed — and the cap hit for next year balloons to $74.5 million. The Ravens need to extend him to get that cap hit down, or else they need to trade him.”
Jackson’s injury issues in 2025, which are hardly new across his eight-year NFL career, don’t help. And Graziano added that while Jackson has won two regular-season MVPs, his playoff record has been underwhelming.
“Jackson and coach John Harbaugh have won a total of three playoff games together since Jackson was drafted in 2018,” Graziano continued. “It might be worth it for the Ravens to examine whether a new extension in excess of $60 million per year is the best way for them to build their team moving forward.”
Jackson has a no-trade clause built into his contract, so the Ravens can’t just send him wherever they like indiscriminately. That said, the Vikings have one of the best offensive head coaches in the league in Kevin O’Connell, not to mention an elite wide receiver in Justin Jefferson and a handful of other quality pass-catchers around him.
The Vikings probably couldn’t even begin trade discussions for Jackson at a price less than three-first round picks. But even despite his injury history and 29th birthday coming up in early January, Jackson is the type of player worth an all-in swing to an otherwise Super Bowl-contending roster.
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