The Minnesota Vikings are going to add a veteran quarterback this offseason. The questions that remain are who will they target, and what role will the team ask that signal-caller to play?
Essentially all healthy free agent QBs in the 2026 class profile as backups, even if some believe they are still starters and will want a chance to prove it in the preseason. There won’t be a robust trade market either, beyond $230 million Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray and potentially San Francisco 49ers backup Mac Jones.
However, a new development in the Miami Dolphins organization might add the name of Tua Tagovailoa to that list. Head coach Mike McDaniel demoted the former first-round pick (No. 5 overall in the 2020 NFL draft) following a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on the most recent edition of “Monday Night Football.”
Not only did McDaniel sideline his $212 million QB, who is making an average of $53 million annually through 2028, but he buried him as the third-string option on the depth chart.
Tom Dierberger of Sports Illustrated suggested the Vikings as among the top trade partners for Tagovailoa, whom the Dolphins may now be prepared to move.
“McCarthy should be the Vikings’ starting quarterback heading into 2026. But he could use more competition in training camp than former undrafted free agent Max Brosmer, who didn’t look ready in his first career start against the Seahawks,” Dierberger wrote Wednesday, December 17. “The Vikings need a better backup plan to McCarthy next season, and Tagovailoa — if they can work out the complicated contract details — certainly wouldn’t be the worst option.”
Tua Tagovailoa Too Expensive, Injury Prone to Be Worth Risk for Vikings
GettyQuarterback Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins.
Of course, Tagovailoa is a superior option than most QB2 candidates in the league. But paying for one with base salaries of $39 million, $31 million and $41.4 million over the next three years, respectively, is not something any team will ever do.
For the Vikings to take Tagovailoa off the Dolphins’ hands, much would have to fall into place.
First, Minnesota would have to believe it needs real competition for McCarthy with regards to the QB1 position. McCarthy has strung together two quality starts in a row, both wins, and if the team finishes strong over the final three weeks of the campaign, a trade for Tagovailoa becomes highly unlikely.
Second, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell would have to be undeterred by McDaniel’s decision to abandon Tagovailoa for a seventh-round rookie in Quinn Ewers with so many years and so much money left on Tagovailoa’s contract.
Third, Minnesota would need to feel entirely comfortable about Tagovailoa’s health after career-threatening concussion issues spanning several years and six missed games in 2024.
And finally, if the circumstances clear all those bars, the Dolphins would have to assume a massive amount of Tagovailoa’s remaining guaranteed money to even get a conversation started.
That last stipulation is actually something Miami might be willing to do if it represented greater savings than simply cutting Tagovailoa, which would cost the Dolphins a total of nearly $100 million in dead money over the next four years with a post-June 1 designation.
Mac Jones Far Better Trade Option for Vikings Than Tua Tagovailoa
GettyQuarterback Mac Jones of the San Francisco 49ers.
Ultimately, bringing in Tagovailoa is too big of a risk for the Vikings, who are already looking at several cuts across the roster in the spring to clear $36 million in salary cap debt for 2026.
A far less risky trade proposition involves dealing with the 49ers for Jones — surrendering either the No. 75 pick in the third round for the QB straight up, or shipping the No. 44 pick in Round 2 to San Francisco in exchange for Jones and a Day 3 draft asset in return.
Minnesota could take an even more conservative approach and sign a free agent like Kenny Pickett to compete with and/or provide injury insurance behind McCarthy.
Vikings Named Top Trade Partner for $53 Million QB Amid McCarthy Doubts