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Vikings Rumors Out Spotlight on Humongous QB Trade, Marcus Mariota, Justin Herbert
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- Vikings Rumors Out Spotlight on Humongous QB Trade, Marcus Mariota, Justin Herbert
Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
The second week of the Minnesota Vikings' offseason is nearly in the books, as the team held a year-end press conference and watched as the league pursued a couple of its coaches. Most of the rumors this week surround the quarterback spot; that's just the way it goes when the current QB1 has missed 70% of all games in two seasons due to injury.
The week's chatter spans two lanes: the dreamer's end of the market (a true franchise-altering trade) and the practical side (a stabilizing veteran behind J.J. McCarthy ).
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Alas, here's the first batch of Vikings rumors for the week.
Minnesota's QB Rumor Mill Is Just Getting Started for the Offseason
The Purple Rumor mill is back for Week No. 2 of the offseason.
Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah speaks to reporters at the TCO Performance Center in Eagan during a media session on Mar 26, 2025, addressing offseason roster decisions, free agency strategy, and early draft planning. The appearance offered insight into Minnesota's long-term vision following recent trades and upcoming draft capital considerations. Mandatory Credit: YouTube
Rumor: Nobody internally for the Vikings will rule out a splashy QB trade.
The big quarterback trade ideas won't die. A fancy quarterback trade continues to hover around the Vikings, and this week it has taken on a life of its own.
ESPN's Kevin Seifert said as much during an appearance on KFAN, explaining that when he went looking for pushback inside Minnesota's orbit regarding a splashy quarterback trade, he didn't find it. In fact, he found the opposite.
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"I could not find anyone to tell me that they definitely don't want to pursue a Joe Burrow or Lamar Jackson or whoever else might shake loose in terms of a guy that would absolutely come in here as the unquestioned starter," he explained .
That leaves two possibilities. Either there's legitimate interest in such a trade — or the people Seifert spoke with were content letting the idea linger without shutting it down.
Minnesota enters the offseason roughly $30–40 million over the salary cap, meaning cuts and restructures are mandatory just to get operational. The Vikings have quietly stockpiled draft capital — around nine picks in 2026 — to soften that blow, but $30-$40 million remains an obstacle.
A true blockbuster wouldn't come cheap. Acquiring someone like Burrow or Jackson would likely start at three first-round picks and move up from there.
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There's also the simplest path, and it's the one the Vikings would gladly accept. If J.J. McCarthy stays healthy in 2026 and develops into a franchise quarterback, the entire conversation becomes meaningless. Until that happens, though, the door stays cracked open.
Rumor: Marcus Mariota makes the most sense as the 2026 QB2.
Mariota has officially entered the Vikings' offseason rumor cycle.
Sportnaut' s Matt Johnson mapped out potential landing spots for all quarterbacks in the 2026 carousel, and Mariota landed in Minnesota's bucket. Johnson claimed the Vikings would not really go deep-sea fishing at quarterback this offseason, instead settling on a Mariota-type.
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"The Minnesota Vikings are not going to pursue a quarterback who would be viewed as a serious challenger to J.J. McCarthy in training camp," he argued .
"What Kevin O'Connell wants is a veteran who can, if needed, come off the bench and play effectively within the structure of the offense. Look at what Marcus Mariota has done in the last two seasons when Jayden Daniels was sidelined."
Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota jogs onto the field with a smile during fourth-quarter action against the Cleveland Browns on Oct 6, 2024, at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. The moment captured Mariota's sideline presence as Washington navigated late-game snaps and personnel rotations down the stretch. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
That description jibes with Mariota's current biography. He brings a McCarthy-adjacent skill set, capable of extending plays, throwing on the move, and escaping pressure.
Johnson continued, "Across 14 games, he posted a 93.4 passer rating with a 14-7 touchdown-to-interception line, a 63.8 percent completion rate and 7.6 yards per attempt. Plus, he offers rushing ability. He is an ideal and cost-effective option for Minnesota. If McCarthy struggles early next season, the offense could improve with Mariota under center."
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This is the first public theory linking Mariota to Minnesota this offseason. Given how the quarterback market tends to snowball, it probably won't be the last.
Rumor: Justin Herbert flopped in the playoffs, and he could eventually become a Viking.
Herbert hasn't left the Vikings' rumor orbit after a couple years of residency.
Clutch Points' Bailey Bassett added Minnesota to Herbert's list of possible destinations, mentioning the scenario around uncertainty at quarterback for both teams.
He wrote , "A Justin Herbert trade to the Minnesota Vikings could work. The Minnesota Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy 10th overall in 2024. Through two seasons, injuries have limited him to just 10 games."
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"The Michigan product and college national champion has plenty of potential, which is why the team chose him over retaining Sam Darnold . They may be regretting that decision, though. With a great defense and Justin Jefferson , one of the best receivers in football, on the roster, the Vikings are just a quarterback away from being a problem."
That idea lines up with Minnesota's 2025 results. The Vikings finished 9–8 despite quarterback play that ranked near the bottom of the league, leaving the rest of the roster — mainly the defense — to pick up the slack.
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert exchanges postgame handshakes with Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen following the final whistle on Dec 23, 2023, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The interaction highlighted mutual respect between two franchise passers after a nationally watched matchup. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
"McCarthy didn't do much this season to prove he has a bright future, but he was a top 10 pick not long ago, so perhaps the Chargers would be interested in taking on his development. Kevin O'Connell is a playcalling genius. With O'Connell's offensive mind, the Herbert-led Vikings' offense would become elite," Bassett continued.
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"Herbert would surely break through to find postseason success in Minnesota."
Herbert + Vikings trade theories are not new. Since Jim Harbaugh arrived in Los Angeles two years ago, Herbert's name has periodically surfaced in Minnesota, largely because of the belief that Harbaugh would relish a reunion with McCarthy, his national championship quarterback at Michigan. Whether that interest ever becomes actionable is to be determined.
