Four Quarterbacks The Vikings Could Target At 2025 Nfl Trade Deadline

The Vikings learned a fewer things Sunday successful their 27–24 upset triumph complete nan Lions astatine Ford Field.

One, they shook disconnected a couple of incompetent performances nan past fewer weeks and are back successful nan playoff race pinch a 4–4 record. And two, they’ve sewage themselves a quarterback successful J.J. McCarthy. The erstwhile No. 10 prime played good successful his 3rd profession start, throwing for 2 touchdowns and rushing for different to amended to 2–1 arsenic a starter.

As was nan scheme entering nan season, McCarthy will beryllium nan starter nether halfway moving forward. Behind him connected nan extent chart, however, things get a spot murky. Backup backmost Max Brosmer, who signed arsenic an undrafted free supplier successful April, looks for illustration an intriguing prospect. But should McCarthy miss much time, nan Vikings’ locker room has excessively overmuch talent to put each nan unit connected a 24-year-old who played conscionable 1 afloat play against FBS opponents successful his collegiate career.

Over nan weekend, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported nan Vikings are, indeed, in nan marketplace to adhd a quarterback to backmost up McCarthy. Here’s a look astatine 4 options they could target:

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I mean, c’mon. The storylines constitute themselves.

Cousins left Minnesota for nan Falcons successful free agency because nan Vikings were group connected drafting a backmost successful 2024 and he wanted much semipermanent stableness arsenic nan starter. Fast guardant a mates of months, and Cousins recovered himself successful nan nonstop aforesaid business successful Atlanta—only it was down Michael Penix Jr., not McCarthy.

Cousins, who mislaid nan starting occupation to Penix precocious past season, started 1 crippled for nan Falcons this year. In an disfigured 34–10 nonaccomplishment to nan Dolphins, Cousins threw for 173 yards pinch nary touchdowns aliases interceptions connected 21-of-31 passing. He’s intelligibly not nan aforesaid backmost arsenic he was earlier tearing his Achilles astatine Lambeau Field successful October 2023, but possibly that’s a bully point for nan liking of this trade. Nobody would beryllium calling for Cousins to commencement while McCarthy goes done increasing pains, and if called upon, he already has built-in chemistry pinch Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and nan remainder of Kevin O’Connell’s offense.

Schefter did study complete nan play that nan Falcons “haven’t shown immoderate willingness” to waste and acquisition Cousins, but hey, crazier things person happened.

Russell Wilson, Giants

Wilson has thrown for 786 yards pinch 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions this season. / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Could “Mr. Unlimited” beryllium connected nan move?

Wilson started 3 games for nan Giants this play earlier he was replaced by rookie sensation Jaxson Dart successful Week 4. His stint arsenic nan starter was difficult connected nan eyes, though retired of obscurity he had 1 of nan champion statistical games of his profession successful nan Giants’ 40–37 overtime nonaccomplishment to nan Cowboys successful Week 2, throwing for 450 yards and 3 scores. Aside from that stellar performance, Wilson struggled. The boo birds astatine MetLife Stadium were retired early and often calling for Wilson to beryllium benched.

Wilson mightiness beryllium nan nonstop type of backup nan Vikings need: an knowledgeable seasoned who could assistance McCarthy’s improvement and randomly propulsion for 450 yards successful a crippled erstwhile his number is called ... arsenic agelong arsenic it gets called for a matchup against nan Cowboys’ dreadful defense.

Giants backmost Jameis Winston stands connected nan section earlier a crippled against nan Broncos astatine Empower Field astatine Mile High. / Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Look, nan 2–7 Giants don’t request each these quarterbacks. Right? If Wilson’s not connected nan waste and acquisition block, nan Vikings should make nan telephone for Winston, 1 of nan NFL’s apical modern time gunslingers.

The beauty of Winston’s crippled is he could propulsion for 5 touchdowns and/or 5 interceptions successful a crippled and not bat an eye. His reckless style of play isn’t sustainable complete a 17-game season, but if McCarthy misses much time, Winston could easy get basking for a fewer games and support nan Vikings’ playoff hopes alive.

Plus, McCarthy was seen aft nan triumph complete nan Lions connected Sunday throwing up a “W” connected his measurement to nan locker room. Why not put him successful nan aforesaid quarterbacks room arsenic nan man who invented nan “eating a W” celebration?

Cooper Rush, Ravens

Rush has started 2 games for Baltimore this season. / Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Rush was dreadful successful 2 starts for Baltimore earlier this year, throwing 4 interceptions and nary touchdowns successful disfigured losses to nan Texans and Rams. He mislaid his occupation arsenic Lamar Jackson’s backup to Snoop Huntley, who led nan Ravens to a 30–16 triumph complete nan Bears successful Week 8.

With Jackson backmost successful nan fold and Huntley arsenic a proven backup, Rush is nan overseas man out.

At 31, Rush would beryllium nan Vikings’ oldest progressive subordinate successful their quarterbacks room by 7 years. Despite nan unsmooth showing this year, he isn’t excessively acold removed from coagulated backmost play. In 2022, Rush went 4–1 during a memorable five-week agelong arsenic nan Cowboys’ starter. Last year, Rush logged an 83.8 passer standing successful 8 starts for Dallas, throwing 12 touchdowns and 4 interceptions and starring nan Cowboys to a 4–4 grounds successful that span.

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