The Minnesota Vikings once again find themselves with three quarterbacks on the roster after signing John Wolford to replace the injured Carson Wentz. However, those three players have a combined total of just six NFL starts between them. Wolford hasn’t taken a snap since 2022, while undrafted rookie Max Brosmer has only seen action during garbage time.
Second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who missed his entire rookie season due to a knee injury, played eight quarters of professional football—seven of them poorly—before suffering an ankle sprain in Week 2. That injury sidelined him until now. McCarthy appears poised to return to the starting lineup for Minnesota’s Week 9 road game against the Detroit Lions. For that contest, the Vikings may need to rely on Brosmer and Wolford as the backup and emergency quarterbacks, respectively.
Given the injury concerns surrounding McCarthy, it would be surprising if Minnesota doesn’t at least thoroughly explore the trade market for a veteran signal-caller with real starting experience. Kirk Cousins could be an option; however, the Atlanta Falcons might be forced to keep him due to injury concerns around Michael Penix Jr., who missed a start last week against the Miami Dolphins with a knee injury.
Russell Wilson of the New York Giants also represents a potential target for the Vikings, though there hasn’t been much trade buzz with just five days remaining before the NFL trade deadline.
An interesting possibility was recently raised by Connor Orr of Sports Illustrated. On Thursday, October 30, Orr named New York Jets starter and former Chicago Bears first-round pick Justin Fields as a potential trade target for Minnesota in the coming days.
### Vikings Let Two Starting QBs Leave Over the Offseason, Passed on Signing a Third
In his proposal, Orr highlighted several veteran quarterbacks Minnesota let slip away during the offseason, including three current starters on teams with winning records. He stated,
“Fields is the perfect high-upside quarterback for [Vikings head coach Kevin] O’Connell to mix into the fold should J.J. McCarthy struggle to play with his injured ankle. The move is an attempt to restock the cupboard in Minnesota after both Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones left for high-end starting jobs elsewhere.”
Orr also pointed out that O’Connell learned a valuable lesson about hubris and the limitations of coaching this offseason, notably forgoing a chance to bring in Aaron Rodgers after McCarthy’s promising spring. Fields, who reportedly isn’t highly valued by Jets ownership, would likely welcome a change of scenery with open arms.
Jets owner Woody Johnson publicly criticized Fields last week, despite signing the 26-year-old to a two-year, $40 million deal during the offseason.
### Justin Fields’ Traditional Statistics Offer Hope for Development Under Kevin O’Connell
Fields earned the start and secured his first win of the season for the Jets in Week 8 against the Cincinnati Bengals due to a knee injury to Tyrod Taylor. However, it doesn’t appear that a long-term future is planned for Fields in New York.
The Jets are currently on their bye week, and Taylor is expected to be healthy enough to return when they face the Cleveland Browns on November 9. This timing could make Fields available in the five days leading up to the NFL trade deadline.
For the Vikings, acquiring a quarterback like Justin Fields could provide valuable depth and upside behind their injury-prone starter. With the trade deadline fast approaching, Minnesota may have little choice but to seriously consider adding a veteran or experienced quarterback to bolster their roster.
https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/minnesota-vikings/justin-fields-trade-jets-jj-mccarthy/
