The Minnesota Vikings didn’t find their ideal quarterback by drafting JJ McCarthy No. 11 two years ago, but a player taken inside the top five one spring before that could be the guy head coach Kevin O’Connell has been waiting for.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk noted on Friday, February 27 that the Vikings and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, who officially has permission to seek a trade, share mutual interest in teaming up.
“Cameron Wolfe with NFL Network reported that the Colts and the Vikings have mutual interest, [and] $5.3 million is what Anthony Richardson is owed this year,” Florio said. “Richardson and JJ McCarthy would have a true competition, and I don’t know who would win.”
Richardson is entering the final year of his $34 million rookie contract, and the $5.3 million figure Florio referenced, which is actually closer to $5.4 million, is the total Indianapolis owes the QB based on his base salary and roster bonus in 2026.
Vikings Down on JJ McCarthy Heading Into 3rd NFL Season
GettyQuarterback JJ McCarthy of the Minnesota Vikings.
Such a scenario might be ideal for O’Connell, as casting McCarthy to the bench in favor of a presumptive starter acquired via trade or free agency could be premature after the 23-year-old started just 10 games for Minnesota during his first two NFL seasons.
Still, Matthew Berry of NBC asserted Saturday that the organization has soured significantly on McCarthy’s prospects after an underwhelming season marred by further injury in 2025.
“One name that I’ve heard that I know [the Vikings are] not super interested in, and that’s JJ McCarthy,” Berry said. “They’re gonna continue to coach him up, but I’d be surprised if there is not serious competition for JJ McCarthy next year as the starting quarterback for the Vikings.”
Berry mentioned Kirk Cousins and Geno Smith as names linked to Minnesota several times over drinks in Indianapolis following combine sessions. The Vikings can have either Cousins or Smith for the $1.3 million league minimum if/when the Falcons and Raiders, respectively, release them.
Berry said Minnesota does not currently have much interest in Arizona QB Kyler Murray. However, that could change if the Cardinals make the drastic decision to cut Murray rather than hold out for a trade or hold onto him for an extra year.
That release cost Arizona in the neighborhood of $50 million, but would also render Murray gettable at the veteran’s league minimum.
Vikings Had Daniel Jones on Roster Last Season Before He Beat Out Anthony Richardson for Colts’ QB1 Job
GettyIndianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones.
Minnesota had two veterans last offseason in Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones, either of whom would have proven a superior option to McCarthy given their respective success with the Seattle Seahawks and Colts last season.
Darnold is a Super Bowl champion, while Jones got the Colts off to the best start over the first half of the season in the AFC before tearing his Achilles tendon. There is some irony in Minnesota’s mutual interest with Richardson now, after Jones displaced him as the starter in Indy last preseason.
“Richardson was already sent to the bench, coincidentally by Daniel Jones, the guy who didn’t wanna stay in Minnesota because he didn’t think he’d be able to beat out JJ Mccarthy because he thought Kevin O’Connell would work his magic on JJ Mccarthy and Jones [was] gonna be No. 2,” Florio said.
“It’s possible — possible — at this point that the Vikings address their quarterback situation by adding Anthony Richardson in a trade with the Colts,” Florio continued. “And it’ll be Richardson and Mccarthy, and may the better quarterback win the starting job.”
Vikings, $34 Million Dual-Threat QB Share ‘Mutual Interest’ in Trade: Report