Fielding a suffocating defense mainly responsible for a 6-1 record, the Vikings have not seen what they have hoped from Kyler Murray. A second injury-driven hiatus is now on tap, with Carson Wentz returning to the lineup because of the starter’s hamstring strain.
The Vikings rank 27th in scoring offense, 29th in yardage and 30th in EPA per play. This has been a borderline disastrous season, record notwithstanding, for Minnesota’s offense. If J.J. McCarthy continues to look good in New York, Kevin O’Connell will have some important explanations to craft.
Murray sits 26th in QBR and is averaging 6.6 yards per attempt. The dual-threat passer fitting into O’Connell’s offense seemed clunky at its outset, but with McCarthy floundering in Minnesota, a low bar emerged for the free agency acquisition. Murray, who has two original-ballot Pro Bowls on his resume (2020, ’21), beat out McCarthy for the Vikes’ QB1 gig before preseason play. But as the midseason point nears for the NFC North team, struggles persist.
A recent report indicated the Vikings are still bullish on Murray, and Amazon’s James Palmer indicates that remains the case. But the team is open to adding a quarterback at the trade deadline, per Palmer, who adds the Vikes’ Monday-night outing against the Bills could be pivotal regarding a potential QB change.
It would seem contradictory for the Vikings to be high on Murray while having a QB move on the radar, and with Week 9 looming as a key test for the club’s passer plan, but the risk of the team squandering an elite defensive performance is in play if this pattern persists. (It is worth wondering if Week 9 will be a Wentz audition to see if he can provide a spark rather than the team needing to make a trade.) The trade market has some interesting names as possible options.
Two former Vikings come up as natural targets, though one may be easier to pry away than the other. Kirk Cousins lasted longer than any Vikes QB1 since Tommy Kramer, narrowly edging Daunte Culpepper with a 5 1/2-season stay in that role, but the Raiders are 4-4. Las Vegas has Fernando Mendoza close to ready, with preparations for the No. 1 overall pick’s onramp well underway. It would seem a good offer could appeal to the Raiders, but they want to keep Cousins as the starter. Would a mid-round pick be enough to change their minds here?
Cousins, 38, would be the most obvious fit in O’Connell’s offense due to his extensive time in Minnesota. But Daniel Jones also spent time as a Vikings practice squad cog in 2024. Minnesota out-offered Indianapolis for the former top-10 pick in 2025, but he chose the Colts due to what he viewed as a better chance to start. That proved correct, and Jones again cashed in — via a two-year, $88MM extension — this offseason. But the Colts fired the GM who authorized that contract (Chris Ballard). Jones, 29, has since been mentioned as a possible trade chip.
We have not heard much on Mac Jones since the offseason, as the 49ers were dissatisfied with the interest that came in for their backup. San Francisco had set an “astronomical” price on Jones, who started eight games last season and played well in Kyle Shanahan’s offense — which is similar to the one O’Connell uses.
Jones, who did come up as a possible trade deadline option back in June, is in the second season of a two-year, $7MM contract. Though, the 49ers would surely need a big offer to part ways with Jones now. Similar to the Jaguars’ Brian Thomas Jr. situation, the prospect of a division-leading team trading a key asset to help a conference threat seems slim.
The Cousins and Jones avenues are worth exploring, as it is certainly interesting two recent Vikings quarterbacks may be available at a point when Minnesota is again scuffling at the position. O’Connell’s team made a move in-season three years ago, acquiring Josh Dobbs — after Cousins’ Achilles tear — and turning to him as a starter quickly. Murray would give the Vikings more to think about regarding an outside add than then-starter Jaren Hall did in 2023, but this will be a key buyer to monitor before Tuesday’s deadline.