The Minnesota Vikings should have a lot of options to add to the quarterback room this offseason, but they may not have so many ideal ones.
Kevin Seifert of ESPN authored an overview of the possibilities in front of Minnesota as the offseason approaches, many of which Heavy has already entertained. Joe Flacco is a free agent and wants to continue playing. Aaron Rodgers is a free agent and won’t return to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but may want to retire.
The Atlanta Falcons have financial incentive to part with Kirk Cousins, which could clear a path to a reunion in Minnesota, but he’s not the same player he was when he left Minneapolis.
Green Bay Packers backup Malik Willis will be a free agent but might cost too much on too great of a commitment, while the Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins appear prepared to part with Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa, respectively, via trade. But Murray and Tagovailoa have had injury and consistency issues and will prove costly in terms of trade price and remaining contract obligations.
A trade for Mac Jones of the San Francisco 49ers is perhaps one of the best options, but a Day 2 pick and change in trade value could create competition for his services around the league.
One novel possibility Seifert mentioned on Sunday, January 18 is a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders for Geno Smith, whose days in the desert are numbered after the franchise landed the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NFL draft and is poised to select Indiana quarterback/Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza.
“Smith could be available via trade,” Seifert wrote. “Smith ranked No. 27 in NFL QBR this season.”
Vikings Can Trade for Geno Smith at Considerable Discount
GettyLas Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith.
The Raiders traded a third-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks to procure Smith last offseason and then signed him to a two-year extension worth $75 million that runs through the 2027 campaign, during which Smith will play at 37 years old.
Smith was a two-time Pro Bowler in 2022 and 2023 but his play last year took a nose dive in meaningful ways. Most prominent were Smith’s 17 interceptions, which led the league.
The argument for him in Minnesota is that after a down season and the Raiders’ ability to move on to Mendoza, Smith shouldn’t cost more than a Day 3 draft pick. Beyond that, Las Vegas won’t be able to move Smith without assuming a reasonable amount of his $26.5 million base salary in 2026.
Smith doesn’t make much sense for the Vikings if he costs nearly $27 million and a third-round pick to acquire. But if his price is a fifth-rounder and approximately $10 million in annual salary next year with an option to move on relatively inexpensively in 2027 if things don’t work out, the math on a deal changes considerably for Minnesota.
Vikings Must Decide Type of QB They Want to Challenge JJ McCarthy
GettyQuarterback JJ McCarthy of the Minnesota Vikings.
Regardless of whether Smith ends up a target for the Vikings, head coach Kevin O’Connell has been clear about his vision for the quarterback room.
“I absolutely want a competitive situation,” O’Connell said.
“ESPN quizzed sources on the possibility of the Vikings pursuing a quarterback with enough stature to vault ahead of McCarthy as the unquestioned 2026 starter before camp begins. None could rule it out,” Seifert continued. “At the very least, and perhaps more realistically, the Vikings will target a quarterback equivalent to what [Daniel] Jones was in 2025, when he won the [Indianapolis] Colts‘ job in training camp and started 13 games before tearing his right Achilles.”
Vikings Trade Pitch Secures $75 Million QB to Compete With JJ McCarthy