The \u201cLegal Tampering\u201d period begins on March 9 at 12:00 p.m. ET. We will know soon enough who is the QB they are bringing in for \u201ccompetition\u201d. For my money, it has to be Kyler Murray or Geno Smith because they will only cost 1.3M. Tua Tagovailoa is a no can do because of his relationship with Flores. Any other QB is going to cost more and the team needs are more important IMHO.<\/p>\n
I could be wrong, and feel free to say so, but it seems that there are fans against the Murray signing because they are afraid it will be the end of JJ here. That could end up being the case too. Warren put out a story making a case for Murray and said if he played well the team would NOT make the same mistake they did with Darnold. I am going to push back a little because if Murray is going to get 50M plus on a new deal in 2027 the team could decide they do not want to go that high and they could feel JJ is ready to roll. If this occurred, the next deal for JJ probably wont be 50M. At the end of the day, this entire situation could end up reducing the next contract for JJ which could be a win for the team.<\/p>\n
If they bring in Geno Smith then that is likely only going to be for one year not matter what he does.<\/p>\n
Minnesota Vikings News and Links<\/p>\n
With \u2018Immense\u2019 Support from Vikings, Dots Connect Kyler Murray to Minnesota<\/a><\/p>\n The latest dot linking the soon-to-be free agent to the Vikings comes from beat reporter Alec Lewis, who says there is \u201cimmense internal support\u201d for Murray within the walls at TCO Performance Center in Eagan.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is immense internal support from a lot of different people on Kyler Murray. I would say even some of the Vikings players appreciate what Kyler has done within the NFL,\u201d Lewis said Wednesday on his podcast. \u201cI could definitely see it happening because it checks a lot of the boxes that the Vikings are after.\u201d<\/p>\n When you break it all down, there are really only five dots needed to complete the Murray-to-Minnesota movement.<\/p>\n Murray will be released by the Cardinals on March 11 Vikings QB Rumors Gaining Momentum as Calendar Flips to March<\/a><\/p>\n We wrote a couple of days ago about NFL Network\u2019s Tom Pelissero linking the Vikings to Arizona\u2019s Kyler Murray and Las Vegas\u2019 Geno Smith, noting that both could be released in the coming days to set up a scenario in which Minnesota could sign them to a one-year deal at the league minimum salary. \u201cI\u2019ve also heard that the Vikings are considering Murray and Smith as they outline their veteran quarterback plan,\u201d Fowler wrote Sunday. \u201cTua Tagovailoa and (Kirk) Cousins are also on their radar. Some I\u2019ve talked to are breaking those four into two tiers, with Murray and Smith in the first group.\u201d \u201cThe idea of bringing in Aaron Rodgers and if the season doesn\u2019t get off to a good start, you\u2019re not benching four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers. You\u2019re not having an open competition between Aaron Rodgers and J.J. McCarthy,\u201d Pelissero said. \u201cI don\u2019t believe you can have an open competition between Kirk Cousins and J.J. McCarthy, because you\u2019ve got thousands of fans pulling out their No. 8 jerseys, because he is Kirk Cousins.\u201d<\/p>\n The Vikings are hesitant about Kyler Murray, despite being the bookmakers\u2019 favorites to sign him<\/a><\/p>\n Although bookmakers have positioned the team as a leading candidate to sign Kyler Murray should he become available, reports suggest the organization may not view the former Arizona Cardinals star as its first option.<\/p>\n Much of the speculation stems from growing uncertainty surrounding J.J. McCarthy, the quarterback selected by the Vikings in the 2024 draft after leading Michigan to a national championship.<\/p>\n While the team initially hoped the young passer would develop into a long-term franchise cornerstone, his first season as a starter reportedly raised concerns inside the organization.<\/p>\n However, according to CBS Sports insider Jonathan Jones, the Vikings\u2019 interest in Murray may depend heavily on the availability of another quarterback.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Colts locked in Daniel Jones with the transition tag Tuesday, and as I wrote earlier this week that does not preclude a team like the Vikings to pursue him,\u201d Jones reported.<\/p>\n \u201cBut if the Vikings can\u2019t clear the cap space — and because the Colts hold first-refusal rights for Jones — the name circulating the strongest around Minnesota is quarterback Kyler Murray.\u201d<\/p>\n Why Signing Kyler Murray Likely Means J.J. McCarthy is Done in Minnesota<\/a><\/p>\n The Vikings aren\u2019t going to make the same mistake they made last offseason when they let Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones walk out the door, forcing them to hand the quarterback keys to J.J. McCarthy.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why fans must prepare for a reality in which J.J. McCarthy is as good as gone if the Vikings sign Kyler Murray. The only possible way McCarthy is the QB in 2027 is if he\u2019s still on the roster in 2026 and finds a way into the starting role \u2014 and plays at a high level \u2014 due to a Murray injury.<\/p>\n Beyond that, he\u2019s a goner with Murray in purple and gold.<\/p>\n Last week, ESPN\u2019s Peter Schrager claimed the Vikings fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah because he made the wrong decisions in regard to the quarterback situation last offseason.<\/p>\n \u201cThey fired the GM because he had Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, and an interested Aaron Rodgers in the building, and he said, no, we\u2019re good with J.J. (McCarthy), and Max Brosmer and Carson Wentz are gonna be his backups. They\u2019re not going to make the same mistake twice,\u201d Schrager said.<\/p>\n Another Insider Suggests Vikings, J.J. McCarthy Breakup Is Brewing<\/a><\/p>\n Here\u2019s what Fowler said Monday when Dan Patrick asked if McCarthy is going to be cut.<\/p>\n \u201cI would be surprised if he gets cut. It\u2019s a similar situation to Anthony Richardson last year. I think, in a perfect world, they would like to bring somebody on, but if you bring on Geno Smith,\u201d Fowler began.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why I think [Smith is] interesting to Minnesota, is because he\u2019s had enough struggles where if you bring him in and sell him as a competitor to J.J., you can kind of sell it, but you can also sell it as, yeah, he\u2019s probably the starter. So, you\u2019re hedging both ways. And you can keep it alive with J.J. a little bit, and maybe he surprises you in camp,\u201d Fowler continued.<\/p>\n \u201cBut, you know, we\u2019ve all been there. It\u2019s kind of like when you get broken up with, where somebody starts seeing other people. When they do that, it\u2019s kind of clear it\u2019s probably over. So, there\u2019s that element to the J.J. McCarthy situation as well.\u201d \u201cThe idea of \u2018competitive room\u2019 means starting quarterback for 2026 is not on the team at the moment,\u201d Matthew Coller told Ben Goessling on the Purple Insider podcast. \u201cThe money quote was when [head coach Kevin O\u2019Connell] said the timeline has changed. I thought, for a lot of people, not just KOC, people in the front office, and that guy who wears No. 18, it\u2019s a very pivotal year for him. Feels to me like someone else is the starting quarterback Week 1 other than J.J. McCarthy.\u201d<\/p>\n For context, O\u2019Connell\u2019s \u201cmoney quote\u201d came when he was asked last week if he thinks McCarthy is still the franchise quarterback: \u201cA lot of those feelings are still the same,\u201d O\u2019Connell said. \u201cIt\u2019s just the timeline is in a different place for all of us than it was at that point (in 2024).\u201d<\/p>\n Goessling, a respected Vikings reporter for the Minnesota Star Tribune, agreed with Coller.<\/p>\n \u201cIf it is J.J. McCarthy, he will have to have looked so drastically different that they will have changed their impressions of him. He does not have the benefit of the doubt anymore,\u201d Goessling said, later adding: \u201cIf it\u2019s him, there has been a massive change. Short of that, I think it\u2019s somebody else. Because the timeline thing, and the (Justin) Jefferson thing, I think it\u2019s exactly it.\u201d<\/p>\n This Vikings-Steelers trade needs to happen if Minnesota signs Kyler Murray<\/a><\/p>\n Pittsburgh Steelers Minnesota Vikings Raiders releasing $75 million Pro Bowler should interest Steelers, Vikings and Jets<\/a><\/p>\n According to ESPN\u2019s Adam Schefter, the Las Vegas Raiders are releasing Geno Smith, barring a trade. Smith is being released with two years left on his $75 million contract.<\/p>\n \u201cESPN sources: the Raiders are releasing last season\u2019s starting quarterback Geno Smith, barring a trade before the start of the new league year,\u201d Schefter reported.<\/p>\n Report: MN Vikings Receiving Lots of Calls on New Trade Chip<\/a><\/p>\n Everyone calling MN Vikings about Jonathan Greenard \u2026 In his first season with the Vikings, Jonathan Greenard racked up 12 sacks on his way to his first Pro Bowl. Last season though, he was hurt and less effective. He had just three sacks in 12 games and it may have been his worst year as a professional.<\/p>\n That seems like a weird time to ask for a raise, but that\u2019s apparently where his head is at. Minnesota can pivot and transition Dallas Turner to that starting role. Last season Turner blossomed, but it was especially evident when playing in Greenard\u2019s spot.<\/p>\n Cowboys draft Downs, trade for Vikings\u2019 Greenard in perfect 7-rd mock<\/a><\/p>\n Trade: 1.20, 5.150 to Minnesota Vikings for edge Jonathan Greenard, 2.49, 3.82<\/p>\n The Cowboys\u2019 picks total 881.4 in value chart points, with the VIkings selections amounting to 590. That places Greenard\u2019s value around 291 points in this swap, around the No. 61 pick. That satisfies the rumor that Minnesota is looking for \u201ca Day 2 pick\u201d in exchange for the pass-rusher.<\/p>\n Greenard\u2019s sack totals were down, notching just three sacks in 12 games, but he had back-to-back 12-sack seasons in 2023 and 2024. Also, his Pass Rush Productivity score saw him pressure the QB on over 16% of his rushes, up from both his \u201823 and \u201824 numbers.<\/p>\n The Vikings are facing a crucial offseason. Meet the executive suddenly in charge<\/a> The Hargrave and Allen Cuts Shouldn\u2019t Change Minnesota\u2019s Draft Plans<\/a><\/p>\n Vikings Preparing To Lose Standout Wide Receiver Amid Cap Crunch<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cMore than 10 teams are eyeing Vikings receiver Jalen Nailor, according to league sources. Nailor recently turned 27 and will be one of the more coveted free-agent wide receivers next week.<\/p>\n Even though he has caught only 69 NFL passes and never reached 450 yards in a season, multiple evaluators think he has the potential to become a priority signing.\u201d<\/p>\n This news could lead to the Vikings being in the wide receiver market for a WR3. Whether it\u2019s free agency or the draft, the team will need a running mate for Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Vikings don\u2019t want to lose Nailor. The coaches \u2014 especially receivers coach Keenan McCardell \u2014 have watched him progress into one of their best developmental stories. A new name has been thrown into the Vikings\u2019 QB hat, coming from Zach Rosenblatt of The Athletic.<\/p>\n Rosenblatt downplayed the Murray steam, and predicted the Vikings to go after Joe Flacco (and Anthony Richardson). For now, we\u2019ll cover Flacco.<\/p>\n \u201cFlacco makes some sense as a fallback option. He showed last season in Cincinnati that he\u2019s still capable of leading an offense: He threw for 13 touchdowns and four interceptions in nine games.<\/p>\n He\u2019s a good veteran presence to have in any quarterback room, especially one with two young quarterbacks, and he\u2019s looking for an opportunity to at least compete to start \u2014 which he\u2019d get in Minnesota.<\/p>\n Also, according to The Athletic\u2019s Alec Lewis, Flacco was \u201cvery much in play\u201d for Minnesota last season before it settled on Carson Wentz \u2014 who shouldn\u2019t be ruled out entirely as an option either.\u201d<\/p>\n 11 of the Minnesota Vikings\u2019 Most Realistic Free Agent Targets<\/a><\/p>\n
Murray can sign for the league minimum of $1.3 million
Vikings are allegedly where all of the top available quarterbacks want to go
Murray was a Vikings fan growing up
Allegedly immense internal support for Murray in Minnesota<\/p>\n
\u2026
Now, ESPN\u2019s Jeremy Fowler is following suit, though he added two other names \u201con their radar.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Pelissero isn\u2019t as keen on the idea of Minnesota adding Rodgers or Cousins.<\/p>\n
\u2026
That\u2019s very similar to what local beat reporters said at the NFL Scouting Combine last week.<\/p>\n
Receive: QB J.J. McCarthy, 2026 seventh round pick<\/p>\n
Receive: 2026 Third round pick (No. 76), 2027 Fifth round pick<\/p>\n
Jonathan Greenard is set to make $22.1 million this season, and that\u2019s not a number the Minnesota Vikings are interested in carrying. He has just a $9.9 million dead cap hit, but Minnesota can get assets back rather than cutting him outright. Seattle Seahawks reporter Corbin Smith (Emerald Spectrum) is reporting the interest in Greenard is substantial.<\/p>\n
The Vikings were never going to get a first round pick for Greenard, but day two selections encompass the second and third rounds. A second round pick plus more seems like a logical place to land, and with interest coming in from roughly 16 teams, there\u2019s an opportunity to drive a hard bargain.
\u2026
Minnesota Vikings can afford loss of Greenard
Beyond just the draft capital, the Vikings would clear space to allocate Greenard\u2019s committed funds elsewhere. Aside from that, his departure opens an immediate starting path for Dallas Turner. The former first round pick had eight sacks last season despite starting just 10 games and playing only 66% of the defensive snaps.<\/p>\n
\u2026<\/p>\n
He can absorb a complex playbook and is a willing run blocker. He possesses vertical speed, and he displays separation ability, too.\u201d<\/p>\n