Discussions among pundits about whether the Minnesota Vikings could acquire a new quarterback at the 2026 NFL trade deadline were heating up entering the weekend. But according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, the possibility depends on one thing.
A quarterback the team already has on the roster — Carson Wentz — and how he plays in Week 9.
Wentz will start Monday night against the Buffalo Bills. That’s because Kyler Murray has a hamstring injury. Throughout the week, though, Florio called the quarterback change for Minnesota “a soft benching” for Murray.
From Wentz’s perspective, the game is a tryout, according to Florio. If he plays well, he will be the team’s new starting quarterback.
If not, then a quarterback trade becomes much, much more likely.
“This week’s apparent soft benching of Murray, who has a hamstring injury that possibly wouldn’t have kept him from playing if the Vikings had beaten the Lions on Sunday, gives Wentz a chance to beat the 6-1 Bills on Monday night,” wrote Florio. If he pulls it off, Wentz could keep the job for the remainder of the four-game gjallarhorn gauntlet that ends with trips to Wisconsin to play the Packers and Mexico to play the 49ers.
“If Wentz fails, the Vikings may mobilize. Immediately.”
Wentz has started one other game this season. He led the Vikings to a 9-3 victory over the Chicago Bears in Week 2.
Wentz went 11 for 20 with 143 passing yards in the contest. The Vikings offense didn’t score a touchdown.
Carson Wentz Facing Tryout Situation Monday Night?
If Florio’s scenario plays out, Wentz will have a lot of pressure to not just win but look good doing so versus one of the top teams in the league.
“It may all come down to Monday night. If Minnesota wins, chances are nothing happens,” Florio concluded. “If Minnesota loses, Tuesday could become a very interesting day.”
But such is life in the league as a backup quarterback. They have to play well when the opportunity arises to stay in the lineup.
In this situation, Wentz might have to play well to prevent falling behind another quarterback on the depth chart after a trade.
Wentz is in his second season with the Vikings. This is the first time the veteran quarterback has played for the same club two years in a row since he was with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2016-20.
Wentz is 3-3 with the Vikings as a starter. That’s right in line with his 50-49-1 overall record as an NFL starting quarterback.
In seven games with the Vikings, Wentz has posted a 63.9% completion percentage with nine touchdowns and five interceptions. He has averaged 7.2 yards per attempt.
Who Could Vikings Target at QB If Wentz Struggles in Week 9?
While Florio proposed the idea of Wentz ending any conversations about the Vikings adding a quarterback through a trade, the NFL insider went ahead and speculated about who Minnesota could target at the deadline anyway.
Florio very clearly articulated Daniel Jones is the ideal quarterback trade candidate for the Vikings.
The other target Florio explored early Saturday morning was Kirk Cousins. But the NFL insider preferred the idea of Jones because of the cost.
“Even if the Raiders would be inclined to move Cousins and ride with Fernando Mendoza, it would cost far less to get Jones than it would to get Cousins,” wrote Florio. “Especially since the Colts may already be planning to cut Jones before a $4 million roster bonus comes due in March and $6.51 million of his $33.49 million salary becomes fully-guaranteed.
“With a new G.M. coming next year, why wouldn’t the Colts want a clean slate? Doing so would wipe out $38 million in non-guaranteed cash for 2027. Trading Jones would result in getting value; cutting Jones would get them nothing.”
Jones spent about six weeks with the Vikings at the end of the 2024 campaign. He didn’t play in a game, but he’s familiar with the organization and head coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense.
Vikings Potential QB Trade Dependent on 1 Thing With Carson Wentz