The Minnesota Vikings were hoping to see second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy have a breakout season in 2025 and prove that he can be the long-term franchise signal caller for the team.
Unfortunately, that was not the case this season. In fact, the exact opposite could be said.
Not only did McCarthy not prove that he can be a franchise quarterback, he left more questions than answers. That has led to speculation that the Vikings could explore the quarterback market during the upcoming NFL offseason.
Read more: Browns’ Myles Garrett Sends Clear Warning to Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers
It’s possible that Minnesota will simply move forward with McCarthy as its starter. However, if an opportunity presented itself to acquire a clear upgrade, would the Vikings consider it?
How about a blockbuster move for Cincinnati Bengals superstar quarterback Joe Burrow?
Burrow has been open about his frustration in recent comments. He wants to win and he is tired of playing hurt. The Bengals have not done a good job of surrounding him with necessary talent and protection.
CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones has name-dropped Minnesota as a potential team to watch connected to Burrow. He also mentioned teams like the Raiders, Browns, Jets, Dolphins, Cardinals, Colts, and Rams.
Jones isn’t reporting that the Vikings have interest in trading for Burrow. Instead, he’s simply noting that if Burrow were made available, those teams would be worth keeping a close eye on.
Should Burrow be made available, it would be an obvious avenue for Minnesota to improve. Pairing Burrow with his former college teammate, Justin Jefferson, would be a dream scenario for the Vikings. He would instantly make them a Super Bowl favorite.
Read more: Cowboys Could Emerge as Top Trade Suitor for $106.5 Million Star
In just six games played this season, Burrow has thrown for 1,268 yards, 12 touchdowns, and four interceptions, while completing 63.5 percent of his passes. Through his 75-game NFL career, he has completed 68.3 percent of his passes for 20,269 yards, 152 touchdowns, and 50 interceptions.
More than likely, Burrow will be back with the Bengals in 2026. It would be a shock to see Cincinnati trade its superstar quarterback rather than focusing on building around him better.
That being said, if he were made available for some reason, Minnesota would be wise to aggressively pursue a trade for him.
For more on the Minnesota Vikings and general NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.