Daniel Jones and Odell Beckham Jr: Indianapolis Colts at Minnesota Vikings
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Minnesota Vikings are 6-1 heading into Monday night’s home game against the Buffalo Bills, where Carson Wentz will make his second start at quarterback this season, with Kyler Murray out due to a Grade 2 hamstring strain.
But even with kickoff a day away, fans and media alike are struggling to focus on anything but the NFL trade deadline, one day later (3 p.m. CT Tuesday). The Vikings have already moved on from one quarterback this fall, trading JJ McCarthy to the New York Giants for a 2027 fifth-round pick.
However, given the struggle bus Murray has been riding in 2026, everyone is wondering whether or not Minnesota will look to upgrade the most important position in all of sports ahead of Tuesday.
Minnesota Vikings were tied to Daniel Jones trade speculation
One name that has sprouted up repeatedly since calls to trade for a QB got loud over the past couple weeks is Colts starter Daniel Jones. Around this time two years ago, Jones was released by the New York Giants, who drafted him in the first round in 2019.
About a week later (Nov. 29, 2024), he signed to the MN Vikings practice squad. He never played, though. The most action he saw was a late-season activation on Jan. 7, 2025, which allowed Minnesota to include him in their comp pick formula the next offseason.
Daniel Jones - NFC Wild Card Round - Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams
Daniel Jones - NFC Wild Card Round - Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams
A few months later, Jones surprised the Vikings when he opted out of a QB competition with JJ McCarthy and instead signed a two-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts worth $88 million, and up to $100 million with incentives ($50 million fully guaranteed at signing).
His 2026 season hasn’t gone the way Indianapolis hoped. In nine starts, Jones is 182-of-302 for 1,722 yards with six touchdowns, 10 interceptions, a 68.9 passer rating and 24 sacks.
That has invited trade rumors ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, and reports said the Colts were fielding calls on Jones and running back Jonathan Taylor.
Colts tell Daniel Jones he is staying in Indianapolis
Then, the Colts fell to 2-7 Sunday, after a 27-23 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, their fifth straight loss. Jones went 20-of-34 for 180 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the game, but the Colts had already told him on Saturday that he was staying.
On Sunday night, Tom Pelissero (The Ringer, Netflix) reported that Indy informed Daniel Jones Saturday, prior to Sunday’s loss, that they are not trading him before Tuesday’s deadline.
The Colts informed QB Daniel Jones on Saturday they’re not trading him by Tuesday’s deadline, sources tell @ringer @netflixsports.
Teams called and the Colts listened. But they never had any intention of moving him. Despite speculation, Jones is staying in Indy. pic.twitter.com/Ew0cVkmEuW
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 8, 2026
Related: Report: Vikings in Market for QB at Trade Deadline
After rumors connecting Jones and the Vikings caught some fire early this week, both local and national insiders started casting doubt on a Jones reunion as the week rolled on.
Jones is due $38 million in 2027, but only about $10.5 million of it is guaranteed for injury until March. That money becomes fully guaranteed on March 15, 2027.
What’s next for the MN Vikings at quarterback
Of course, with the deadline just 1.5 days away, a lot of these news bites are posturing. The real test will be Monday night, when Carson Wentz suits up for the Minnesota Vikings. If he plays well, maybe the trade rumors go dark Tuesday.
However, if the MN Vikings offense struggles again like it has most of the season, I have a feeling promises once made to Daniel Jones (or Kirk Cousins) could be sold for a bit more draft capital than what’s been discussed to this point.