NFL free agency is 16 days away, and many of the rumors in the Minnesota Vikings ' orbit will receive verdicts. Until then, the rumor mill continues, focusing this week on quarterback and — you guessed it — free agents.
Three Vikings rumors to track: Richardson as an upside swing, Hilton as a Flores fit, and McCarthy trade buzz rising.
An offseason is markedly more interesting when a football team doesn't have an official general manager.
A peek at the purple gossip for the week.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. delivers a throw during training camp on July 28, 2025, at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana, working through drills as coaches evaluate timing, footwork, and arm strength ahead of the preseason while teammates cycle through reps in a competitive summer practice environment. Mandatory Credit: Mykal McEldowney-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
Rumor: Anthony Richardson is a serious trade option for the Vikings.
Bleacher Report' s Alex Kay mapped out four possible landing spots for Richardson, and alongside the Cleveland Browns , San Francisco 49ers , and Pittsburgh Steelers , the Vikings made the list.
He scribed , "After going 14-3 with Sam Darnold at the helm in 2024, the Minnesota Vikings could be in the market for another rehabilitation project. Richardson would fit the bill as a promising talent who hasn't come close to meeting the lofty expectations set by his first-round draft position."
"While Minnesota will be working to build up J.J. McCarthy after a rough sophomore campaign, the No. 10 overall pick in 2024 has proved to be injury-prone early in his NFL career. He already missed his entire rookie season and seven games in 2025, making quarterback depth a priority this offseason."
Richardson doesn't profile as a seamless fit in Kevin O'Connell's current scheme , yet the physical upside remains obvious. The arm strength, mobility, and off-platform flashes still intrigue many.
Kay added, "O'Connell seems to believe Richardson has real potential to develop into a superstar despite the rough start to his career. After his Vikings bested the Colts midway through the 2024 season — a game Richardson spent on the bench backing up Joe Flacco — O'Connell went out of his way to heap praise upon the young QB."
"Richardson could do far worse than landing in the Twin Cities this offseason. He'll have a fantastic opportunity to develop his game and could even end up starting if McCarthy goes down with another injury in 2026."
The scenario hinges on how aggressive Minnesota wants to be at quarterback. The Vikings may explore upside swings like Richardson if they don't prefer a more experienced veteran passer. Will Levis falls in this category, too.
Rumor: Minnesota could target veteran corner Mike Hilton in free agency.
Pro Football Focus 's Mason Cameron broke down ideal landing spots for the NFL's top five free-agent cornerbacks this week, and Hilton somehow popped up as a fit for Minnesota. That raised some eyebrows, given Hilton isn't typically grouped among the splashier names in this year's class. Cameron, however, sees the Vikings as a natural fit. .
He wrote , "Best Landing Spot: Minnesota Vikings. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores has a reputation for running the most aggressive, blitz-heavy defenses in the NFL. That scheme requires multifaceted cornerback play, particularly in the slot, where the Vikings frequently deploy Byron Murphy Jr. Although talented, Murphy struggled inside in 2025, ranking in the sixth percentile in slot PFF coverage grade (49.3)."
"Adding a full-time slot cornerback to better fill out the roster would allow Murphy to remain outside, where he's far more effective. While Mike Hilton saw limited time on the field in 2025, his overall profile suggests he has far more to contribute in the right situation."
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton reacts after a defensive stop in overtime against the Minnesota Vikings on Dec. 16, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, celebrating a turnover on downs during a tense late-game sequence that shifted momentum in a tightly contested matchup. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports.
Hilton's calling card has long been his willingness to attack. He thrives near the line of scrimmage and fits comfortably in pressure-heavy structures, which makes the Flores connection logical rather than surprising.
Cameron added, "Hilton could step in and man the slot role to a high level, evidenced by his 76.3 slot PFF coverage grade since the start of 2023 — the seventh-highest mark in the NFL over that span."
"Additionally, the veteran cornerback could be used as a versatile weapon in blitz packages, as he has been in previous stops with the Bengals and Steelers, with whom he generated seven or more pressures in each full season of his career."
Hilton, as a 2026 addition, would serve as a short-term stabilizer rather than a long-term solution . At 32, he'd be a steady presence who can solidify the slot and elevate pressure packages.
But he's not a long-term remedy.
Rumor: Per ESPN, J.J. McCarthy already needs a change of scenery.
ESPN's Aaron Schatz named a player from each team this week who needs a "change of scenery." For Minnesota, Schatz picked McCarthy.
Schatz explained , "This is likely never going to happen, because it would be ridiculous for the Vikings to unload a player who still has first-round upside after 10 starts. However, a fresh start for McCarthy with a different organization might be the best thing for his career."
"Yes, you want a young quarterback to be with an offensive mind such as Minnesota coach Kevin O'Connell for the purposes of his development. However, things went so badly for the Vikings with McCarthy last season that it might be best to get him out of the shadow of Super Bowl winner Sam Darnold ."
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy embraces a fan following the game against the Detroit Lions on Nov. 2, 2025, at Ford Field in Detroit, sharing a postgame moment after a divisional battle as supporters linger near the tunnel to greet players exiting the field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images.
The only way to give McCarthy a chance of scenery right now — he has up to three years left of team control on his rookie deal — would be a trade, presumably one in which the Vikings package a player for a better quarterback .
Schatz's idea is unlikely, but it's not absolutely out of the realm of possibility.
