The Vikings called for a trade for the $8 million quarterback to challenge JJ McCarthy. Originally appeared in The Sporting News. Add sports news as a preferred source by clicking here.
The Minnesota Vikings are facing a challenging situation.
The team has an elite defence that is good enough to make the playoffs, but the quarterback’s play has not been good enough. However, because of the aforementioned defence, the Vikings still won nine games last year, but they did not have a high draft pick.
The Vikings also selected JJ McCarthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. McCarthy missed his entire rookie season with an injury and has suffered multiple injuries in the 2025 season.
Even when McCarthy played in 2025, he did not deliver the most promising results. Could the Vikings get desperate this offseason and make a big move? Ryan Guthrie of PFSN Recently identified the Vikings as a team that could trade for quarterback Mack Jones.
Jones is contracted to San Francisco 49ers. Although Jones has a contract with the San Francisco 49ers for one more season, Brock Purdy is expected to be the starting quarterback. However, Jones has impressed in his opportunities and, as a result, could be an attractive option for other teams.
Regarding Jones and the Vikings, Guthrie offered the following:
Do the Minnesota Vikings still see JJ McCarthy? As their starter, however, the keyword this offseason in Minnesota should be ‘competition’. McCarthy has fought the anomaly this past year and posted a PFSN NFL QB Impact Score of 64.5, No. 37 in the league, and well below average. Despite this, the team finished 9-8, thanks largely to a dominant defence.
Jones has the ability to challenge McCarthy during training camp and also provides valuable insurance due to McCarthy’s history of injuries. And if Jones can win the job outright, he has the experience and skills to quickly elevate the Vikings into NFC contention.
However, head coach Kyle Shanahan reportedly loves Jones, and given Purdy’s extensive injury history, they may prefer to keep the veteran around.
The Vikings will likely blow away the 49ers with a trade offer for Jones. While an early draft pick might seem like a significant investment for Jones, the Vikings have demonstrated success in past reclamation projects.
Sam Darnold was a passer who failed at multiple stops and then revived his career in Minnesota. Perhaps head coach Kevin O’Connell views Jones similarly to Darnold and is prepared to accept the risk.
While Jones might not achieve the same level of success as Darnold, he could serve as a valuable backup plan. Jones is unquestionably a better option than Max Brosmer and Carson Wentz, who the Vikings had to rely on in 2025.
