Combine scuttlebutt...overheard about Vikings QB situation
Lots to unpack here, but apparently there have been conversations and discussions ramping up in Indy this past week. So the actual sources apparently are not just interweb posters looking to create clickbait.
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The combine is traditionally a major event for NFL offseason news, so it's a great source for gathering intel. National reporters Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano spent the week talking to execs, coaches, agents, scouts, players and other team sources to learn more about what could happen in the coming weeks.
Will the Vikings add quarterback competition?
Graziano: The Vikings are not ready to give up on J.J. McCarthy, their 2024 first-round pick who missed his rookie season because of a knee injury and struggled mightily through an injury-riddled second season in 2025. But they also aren't ready to hand McCarthy the keys for 2026. The odd quarterback landscape of this offseason makes it difficult to predict where the Vikings land, but if and when someone such as Geno Smith or Kyler Murray gets cut, I could see Minnesota pursuing that kind of passer on a low-cost, one-year prove-it deal.
Bringing in a veteran quarterback who has had some success in the league could be what the Vikings need to get McCarthy's attention. It would remind him about the parts of his game he still needs to work on and get him back on track to where Minnesota can hopefully harness his talent and build him into the franchise QB it thought he was when it drafted him. If the Vikings don't land that type of QB, they'd probably pivot to the older free agents in that group, such as Joe Flacco, former Viking Kirk Cousins and, yes, Aaron Rodgers, whom they discussed bringing in last offseason before deciding against it.
It's also possible that the Vikings look into one of the potentially available unproven backup QBs who could be available via trade, such as Tanner McKee, Davis Mills or even Anthony Richardson Sr. But while such a move might help them feel better about the depth of their QB room, it likely wouldn't help them accomplish their goal with McCarthy -- either get him back on track or at least buy themselves another year to evaluate his long-term viability.
Fowler: I've also heard that the Vikings are considering Kyler Murray and Geno Smith as they outline their veteran quarterback plan. Tua Tagovailoa and Cousins are also on their radar. Some I've talked to are breaking those four into two tiers, with Murray and Smith in the first group.
None of those quarterbacks are free agents, but Cousins will be soon, and the others are available via either a trade or a release. The expectation leaguewide is that a combination of Murray, Smith and Tagovailoa -- and possibly all three -- will be free agents soon enough, barring intensified trade talks. And many quarterbacks view Minnesota as an attractive destination.
Smith possibly joining the Vikings has been underplayed as a pairing in league circles, but it makes a lot of sense. He's due $18.5 million in 2026 guarantees but has another $8 million that guarantees on the third day of the new league year. He also offers "bridge QB" cover if the team doesn't want to bail on McCarthy and show a true QB competition, even if veiled.
What about Cousins and the rest of the QBs?
Graziano: The Falcons will release Kirk Cousins before the start of the league year, when his $67.9 million salary would become fully guaranteed under the terms of his reworked contract. Atlanta has to pay Cousins a $10 million roster bonus this year, whether he's on the team or not, but it does not appear to be interested in bringing back Cousins. (Read into that a $10mm discount for whoever signs him).
Cousins wants to play this season; I was told the rumors of him potentially retiring to take a TV job are incorrect. But he could be selective about his next destination. The past two times Cousins was a free agent, he received deals from Minnesota and Atlanta quickly. But this time, Cousins likely will wait to see how some of these situations shake out before deciding -- even if that means waiting through the offseason for some team's situation to change in his favor.
Yeah, the Geno and Kyler scuttlebutt has been thick this weekend, but in this period of heavy rumors and little actual news, it's difficult to know what are actual stories, and which bits are rumors started by analysts doing their own "what if...?" musings.
I'm not a big fan of either, in this case. Kyler has knocks from being short to being expensive to disappearing in big games, whereas Geno is practically the prototype QB of Vikefans' frustrations: good enough to get to the wild card round, but no further.
At this point, I'd be at least as interested in keeping Wentz (as he's been a good soldier for us, already) or reclaiming Kirko (if the deal/situation were good for us). We don't have the cap room to make a "Burrow" level splash, most of the other QBs have serious considerations ($$ for Willis, trade costs for Jones), so...I'm all for keeping the most recent one or bringing back the proven one...
...but, I'm still betting that McCarthy busts his ass to step far forward this year.
KOC, JJM, Flores...make a good plan, or you'll be following Kwesi....
Honestly, I don't think we know any more now than we did before the combine. Are we interested in more of a replacement QB like Murray or do we want more of a competition guy like Geno?
Yes.
Meh whatever. People are talking shit because they can but they don't know anything. We'll see what happens
You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it. — Robin Williams
Drum beats getting louder for Willis to Phins...
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
Agents are the main source for the national rumor-monger journalists, who are used to place items to manipulate situations in exchange for bits of real info they can then report along with the fake stuff. So we get a mosaic of rumors and claims this time of year which has limited utility.
I think this all boils down to Kyler Murray or Geno Smith.
MaroonBells wrote:
I think this all boils down to Kyler Murray or Geno Smith.
Canthony wrote:
I have a feeling it will be Geno when its all said and done. Just a QB that does his job and works hard.
I'm not sure either of these guys will want to sign for a league minimum deal? I think thats what Brez would offer.
Maybe the Vikings have learned their lessons and sign someone for at least a 2 year/option.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
StickierBuns wrote:
KFAN1003 @KFAN1003 · 49m "I think it's a great option." @nacholeber loves the idea of the Vikings bringing in Derek Carr. @PowerTripKFAN
Well now I think every possible available QB out there has been "linked" to the Vikings and at least one quotable source has been provided to express tremendous, stupendous love for every single option. We've covered all the bases, it's clear as mud, and silly season matches on! ;)
purplefaithful wrote:
I'm not sure either of these guys will want to sign for a league minimum deal? I think thats what Brez would offer.
Maybe the Vikings have learned their lessons and sign someone for at least a 2 year/option.
I think both QBs will still be getting big money from their previous teams. I don't know if Vet min is an option, but shouldn't be TOO far off. Definitely agree that we should consider a two year deal just in case whoever it is goes all Sammy on the league.
purplefaithful wrote:
I'm not sure either of these guys will want to sign for a league minimum deal? I think thats what Brez would offer.
Maybe the Vikings have learned their lessons and sign someone for at least a 2 year/option.
Not real excited about either. Definitely think Geno would be the more logical choice. But as said above, I think Wentz is as good an option as either of those.
StickierBuns wrote:
Pat McAfee @PatMcAfeeShow · 8m "I'm told it's 50/50 that the Colts will be able to get a deal done with Daniel Jones by the deadline tomorrow..They either get a deal done with him or I think the transition tag is in play here" ~
@AdamSchefter
Never really thought Jones was an option. Mostly because he's not going to be healthy enough to particiate in any kind of "competition." On top that, even the transition tag is likely more than the Vikings want to spend: $37M. Really hard to see. But to follow up...
VikingzFanPage@vikingzfanpage
According to@AdamSchefter
He “wonders about a team like Minnesota” if the #Colts place the transition tag on Daniel Jones, he mentioned on @PatMcAfeeShow
The transition tag allows the player to negotiate and sign offer sheets with any other NFL team. The player's original team has a "right of first refusal," meaning they have five days to match any offer sheet signed with another club. If they do not match, the player leaves with no draft pick compensation awarded to the original team.
Jones' injury history has blown past concerning...
=============================================
Daniel Jones has suffered approximately twelve notable injuries over his seven-year NFL career, including significant, season-ending, or grade 2+ injuries like a torn ACL, a ruptured Achilles, a pinched neck nerve, and multiple high ankle sprains. He has missed over 25 games due to these injuries.
Key Injuries and Career Impact:
2025 (Indianapolis Colts): Suffered a ruptured Achilles in Week 14, ending his season.
2023 (New York Giants): Suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his right knee in Week 9, after previously missing time with a neck injury.
2022: Suffered a high ankle sprain (Grade 3).
2021: Missed time with a season-ending neck injury (pinched nerve).
2020: Missed games with a hamstring injury and a sprained ankle.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
MaroonBells wrote:
Never really thought Jones was an option. Mostly because he's not going to be healthy enough to particiate in any kind of "competition." On top that, even the transition tag is likely more than the Vikings want to spend: $37M. Really hard to see. But to follow up...
VikingzFanPage@vikingzfanpage
According to@AdamSchefter
He “wonders about a team like Minnesota” if the #Colts place the transition tag on Daniel Jones, he mentioned on @PatMcAfeeShowThe transition tag allows the player to negotiate and sign offer sheets with any other NFL team. The player's original team has a "right of first refusal," meaning they have five days to match any offer sheet signed with another club. If they do not match, the player leaves with no draft pick compensation awarded to the original team.
There better not be a current or alternate universe where we pay Jones $37M/yr.
StickierBuns wrote:
The media brigade has literally put EVERY QB in connection with Minnesota. All of them. They don't have a clue. Just like nobody saw Jonathan Allen and Will Fries coming to Minnesota.
Cowherd now "hearing reports" the Vikings will have high interest in Tua once released by the Dolphins.
I agree, none of these guys know anything and are trying to connect every available name to Minnesota
supafreak84 wrote:
Cowherd now "hearing reports" the Vikings will have high interest in Tua once released by the Dolphins.
I agree, none of these guys know anything and are trying to connect every available name to Minnesota
i puked a little in my mouth when reading this..... if we are going this route might as well beg Kelly to stick around one more year and we can make a drinking game out of the blue tent visits.
Why isn't Chuck Foreman in the Hall of Fame?
StickierBuns wrote:
0% chance Tua ends up in Minnesota. Period.
There are 2 teams that we can be sure Tua will not play for after being released by the Dolphins and they are in this order: 1) Vikings; 2) Dolphins.
Of course Tua is a concussion waiting to happen and cannot throw the ball more than 10 yards. That is true no matter where he ends up. But the Vikings just made Flores the highest paid DC in NFL history. Tua and Flores will never be on the same team again.
Indianapolis Colts
QB Daniel Jones: Received the transition tag (one-year, $37.8 million), which gives the Colts the right to match any offer sheet submitted by another team. Both sides will continue negotiations on a multi-year contract. (Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero)
FourCornersViking wrote:
Indianapolis Colts QB Daniel Jones: Received the transition tag (one-year, $37.8 million), which gives the Colts the right to match any offer sheet submitted by another team. Both sides will continue negotiations on a multi-year contract. (Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero)
I think this was really the only route the Colts could go...
That said, it aint perfect.
Questions about Jones health/recovery and questions on all the other QB's available besides him.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
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