The Minnesota Vikings landed a two-time Pro Bowler this offseason in Kyler Murray for the league minimum, though if that doesn’t work out the team could end up in the mix for one of the most expensive quarterbacks in NFL history.
Cincinnati Bengals superstar Joe Burrow sent shockwaves through the league last December when he expressed frustration and indicated he has lost some of his joy for the game after going 24-27 over the past three seasons and failing to make the playoffs every time.
“If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it,” Burrow said. “I have been through a lot. If it’s not fun, then what am I doing it for?”
Burrow has not expressly asked for a trade, and the Bengals acquiesced to his desire for the team to bring back both wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins on monster contracts. However, Cincinnati has struggled to field quality offensive lines and defenses both before and after those deals.
The Bengals’ O-line finished ranked 28th by Pro Football Focus in 2025, while the defense was 31st after allowing 380.9 yards per game.
Burrow turns 30 in December and is entering the second season of his five-year, $275 million contract in 2026. The Bengals put up the worst campaign of Burrow’s career last year (6-11), save for his rookie season (4-11-1).
Should the Bengals fail to protect Burrow, who has taken 213 sacks in 77 career games, and come up short with regards to improving the defense again in 2026, the Bengals could be dealing with an exacerbated QB ready to push his way into a better situation for the second half of his career.
Joe Burrow Dubbed Trade Risk if Bengals Fail to Improve Meaningfully Next Year
GettyCincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
Such was the scenario that Mike Kadlick of Sports Illustrated imagined earlier this week when suggesting that Burrow is a potential trade candidate if things don’t change soon in Cincinnati.
“It would be a stunning development if the 29-year-old were to ever be shipped away from the team that selected him with the No. 1 pick in 2020,” Kadlick wrote. “But, given the notoriously cheap nature of the Bengals organization, and the enormous haul they’d get in return, it can’t be deemed impossible.”
Minnesota would be a prime trade destination for Burrow, regardless of how well Murray plays this year. Burrow is a more traditional quarterback than Murray whose game better suits the type of offense Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has traditionally run over his four years with the team.
Murray is under contract for just one year, while JJ McCarthy is entering his third season after Minnesota selected him No. 10 in the 2024 draft. The Vikings can move on from either player, or both, with ease next offseason to clear the way for a generational talent like Burrow.
Vikings Run Risk of Justin Jefferson Asking Out With Another Bad QB Season in 2026
GettyMinnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson.
Minnesota also has wideout Justin Jefferson to consider.
Jefferson, like Burrow, has never asked for a trade. However, he has three years remaining on his $140 million contract and just dealt with an abysmal year at the QB position in Minnesota in 2025. A repeat situation next season could have Jefferson considering new career options, which Kadlick also addressed.
“Amid their identity crisis at quarterback, it’s fair to wonder whether Minnesota’s instability could force the 2022 Offensive Player of the Year to consider what a long-term future would look like elsewhere,” he wrote.
Jefferson and Burrow won a national title as teammates at LSU, and a reunion would presumably be more than enough proof of the Vikings’ willingness to invest in the offense moving forward.
Not only would Minnesota have to assume the remainder of Burrow’s monster contract in any deal, but the team would also likely have to forfeit at least two first-round picks, if not three, and then some to get Burrow into the locker room.
Vikings Blockbuster Trade Pitch Reunites Justin Jefferson With $275 Million QB