Dianna Russini
@DMRussini
A.J. Brown trade discussions are not dead.

Last week, I was told the Rams discussed trading for Eagles WR A.J. Brown before dealing for CB Trent McDuffie.

Dialogue slowed, but Los Angeles continues to monitor the status of the three-time Pro Bowler with interest. We’ll see where both parties go from here.

If sensitive look away but I need to get this out.

Are the Vikings a joke? Before you roll your eyes--

We don't win Super Bowls and we don't really win that many playoff games either, but we don't suck. The culture and vibes are usually solid. The games are fun to attend. We aren't the Browns or the Raiders or the Falcons or the Jaguars, most years. For the vast majority of my almost 30 years as a fan, the Vikings haven't been a punching bag or a circus. In the last few months, it feels like that's changed.

What kind of team spends two years selling their fans on a QB as The Guy, and then pines him after 10 starts in which he went 6-4? I'm not sure it's ever been done.

What kind of team waits til a month after the season to fire a GM (who's record was 34-17 btw), and then spends the next week smearing the guy? And then decides we're gonna be the one team in the NFL that doesn't really need a GM for draft.

What kind of team churns through mid QBs like we do decade after decade and thinks one magic year everything will fall into place and we can become the 2002 Buccaneers? That is not a long term strategy, it's a prayer.

I love the NFL and the Vikings and even if we didn't win The Big One, we're a solid team for the most part. Teams don't see us on the schedule and smile. KO felt like a great hire and I still think he's a great coach. But he's a COACH. Not a GENERAL MANAGER. Maybe after 3 rings that can change but as much as I like O'Connell and still do-- objectively he has not earned the power he currently has, he's simply filling a void. A stopgap solution to a bigger problem.

WHY IS IT ALWAYS STOPGAP SOLUTIONS WITH THIS FREAKING TEAM.

Alright I guess that's enough. This board is great and I value the opinions shared here more than my own. There are many ways where Kyler works and we all have lots of fun this season. Darnold and Keenum and Favre did it. But even more than wins I'd like to see a team that's building something that indicates the future will exceed the past. I thought that's what we were doing with McCarthy. Now I'm kind of left reeling (clearly lol). As of Friday, March 13, 2026, I'm not seeing the longterm vision.

Gonna return to my armchair and watch this plays out.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7105184...ee-agency/

Analysis: The Vikings signed Kyler Murray. So what’s next for J.J. McCarthy?

The Vikings are signing QB Kyler Murray to a one-year deal with a no-tag clause, per sources. -Alec Lewis, The Athletic

Two-time Pro Bowl QB Kyler Murray has signed a one-year contract with the Vikings, his agent @ErikBurkhardt tells me and @RapSheet.

The deal includes a no-tag clause. Murray will make $36.8 million this season, with Arizona paying all but the minimum salary.

Bengals pay Jonathan Allen so much money vikings get 8 million extra cap space

Been awfully quiet.
He musta brought his laptop to have all those Zoom meetings last night and today with the three to five teams that might be looking for a QB in 2027, that was claimed by his agent.

Some restructures
Some anticipated cuts
Some low-key signings/re-signings

The two big outstanding issues are QB and Greenard. 

Did I miss something?

Quarterback Kyler Murray is currently a free agent. That may not last long.

John Gambadoro of 98.7 FM in Phoenix reports that Murray will visit the Vikings on Thursday.

From Gambadoro’s tweet: “A starting spot is a priority, and Minnesota does offer that and a deal could be done in the next 24 hours. But Murray and his camp are expected to explore several options as a backup in 2026 for teams that could need a starting QB in 2027 over the next 24 hours.”

One team that has interest in Murray as a backup for 2026, we hear, is the Rams. And with Matthew Stafford on a year-to-year plan, L.A. could need a starter by 2027.

Still, as immediate starting options go, the Vikings present the best opportunity. Unless the Steelers snap out of their Aaron Rodgers 2.0 fever dream.

Murray’s appeal, beyond his skills, comes from his availability at only $1.3 million for 2026. He should insist on a no-tag clause for 2027, so that he’ll have maximum leverage if he plays in 2026 like he did in the early years of his career.

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootbal...n-thursday

Asks for his release if we sign Kyler?  I mean it would be a very clear message that we're moving on from him.  Say what you will about a "competition", but Kyler (if signed) will need every rep he can get with the first team to learn a new system, leaving none for McCarthy.  

Can't say I'd blame him