NFL Insiders: Vikings Calling Around to Add at 1 Specific Spot

The NFL insiders have confirmed what’s plain to see: the Minnesota Vikings are looking to add an arm.

Consider the update that ESPN’s Adam Schefter sent along: “Developing: The Vikings have begun making calls around the league about trading for a quarterback ahead of today’s 4 pm ET deadline, per @rapsheet and me.”

Not to be outdone, Ian Rapoport sent a near identical update, writing, “Developing: The #Vikings have begun making calls around the league about trading for a quarterback ahead of today’s 4 pm ET deadline, per @AdamSchefter and me.”

NFL Insiders Say it’s QB Calls in MIN

The mere acknowledgement that Minnesota is calling around isn’t shocking. What’s going to make any negotiation difficult is that the Vikings don’t have a ton of leverage.

Everybody can see that the current quarterback situation isn’t working. Kevin O’Connell, the well-respected play caller who is known as a QB expert, has struggled to get any consistency out of the arms presently on the roster.

Maybe the only decision left is to decide which passer to acquire. There are a few options who appear to make sense. Crucially, what’s that desired passer going to cost?

As it relates to potential options, Kirk Cousins is the cream of the crop. The veteran can run the O’Connell scheme (not a foregone conclusion). Better yet, he’s cheap and not on a parallel contention timeline with his current team.

Other possibilities include San Francisco’s Mac Jones, Indianapolis’ Daniel Jones, and New York’s Geno Smith. All of these lads have been flying around in the NFL’s trade rumors and speculations. None are so compelling as Cousins, though.

Consider the commentary from VT’s Sean Borman on why Cousins makes sense: “My guess is Kirk Cousins. Raiders could hang onto Cousins and try to deal him in a short window next March, but at that point they lose a ton of leverage. Plus, extending him at that point wouldn’t much sense with Mendoza on the roster. His agent doesn’t give hometown discounts.”

Put differently, the Raiders appear to be operating within a sweet spot as it relates to timing. Sell high on Cousins and move on with a shiny pick in the team’s back pocket.

The Vikings have a pair of 3rd-Round selections. Sending one of those picks to Sin City would be an overpay but that’s what it could cost to get the veteran. Otherwise, there could be some combination of the 5ths and/or 6ths in Minnesota’s coffers.

Any trade needs to be finished by 3 p.m. CT.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.