Vikings Connected to Three Trade Targets

The frequency of the Minnesota Vikings’ trade regimen may reduce this offseason with Kwesi Adofo-Mensah no longer in the seat as general manager, but Bleacher Report believes the purple team could target three players nevertheless: Kyler Murray (QB), Mac Jones (QB, and Deonte Banks (CB).

Minnesota may never pull the trigger, but the trio shows the range of outcomes on the table, from QB swing to cheaper insurance and CB help.

The Vikings, in theory, can explore trades at anytime and agree to them in principle, even before the start of free agency in one month.

Three Trade Targets Suddenly Linked to the Vikings

It’s two quarterbacks and a cornerback per BR for Minnesota’s trade needs.

1. Kyler Murray | QB

BR’s Alex Ballentine named the trio as Minnesota’s trade options and opined on Murray, “It would be much harder to figure out the money for a trade involving Kyler Murray. He would cost any team that trades for him $24.9 million. He would also pose a much bigger threat to McCarthy. Still, the Vikings have the defense and the skill talent to be a contender in the NFC and Murray could unlock that in O’Connell’s offense.”

Based on his career production to date and draft stock seven years ago — the first overall pick in 2019 — Murray is the best quarterback option the Vikings can find this offseason, unless one believes a trade for Joe Burrow or Lamar Jackson, for example, is realistic.

The Cardinals hired a new head coach, Mike LaFleur, and appear ready to move on from Murray after seven seasons and just one postseason trip.

In the last seven years, Murray’s EPA+CPOE sits ahead of Baker Mayfield, C.J. Stroud, Trevor Lawrence, and Daniel Jones — all quarterbacks currently projected to open 2026 as starters for their teams.

2. Mac Jones | QB

Ballentine noted on Jones as a Vikings’ trade candidate, “Mac Jones would be an ideal candidate. He has experience with Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco and he’s only going to cost a team that trades for him a $3.5 million cap hit.”

The problem here — unlike Murray — is that the 49ers are in no rush to trade Jones. He’s arguably the best QB2 insurance policy in the NFL, and San Francisco QB1 Brock Purdy is not Iron Man.

ESPN’s Nick Wagoner wrote Sunday, “Despite continued speculation, the San Francisco 49ers have no plans to trade quarterback Mac Jones this offseason and fully intend to bring him back as Brock Purdy’s backup, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Sunday.”

“In an ever-uncertain quarterback landscape, Jones has been a potential offseason trade target for teams in need of a starter. But at least for now, the Niners don’t plan to part with Jones, who is under contract for another year at a salary cap number of $3.07 million. Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said as much at his end-of-season news conference when asked about dealing Jones, though he also left the door cracked open.”

The case for Jones landing in Minnesota — or anywhere — is simple. He started eight games in 2025, and San Francisco went 5–3 during that stretch. Stretch those eight games across a full season, and you’re looking at roughly 4,570 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and a 69.6 percent completion rate.

That production tracks closely with Sam Darnold’s 2024 output, the same season Minnesota went 14–3. Nothing in Jones’ recent tape or efficiency suggests he would walk into Minnesota and suddenly fall apart.

It’s whether the 49ers price-gouge for his services, and whether the Vikings take the bait.

3. Deonte Banks | CB

The final former 1st-Rounder of BR’s exercise, Banks would evidently be a welcome addition to Brian Flores’s secondary. It’s just that fans would have to hope that he fundamentally improved upon arriving in Minneapolis.

His numbers through three seasons are grim. Here’s his passer-rating-against:

2025: 126.7
2024: 124.2
2023: 79.6

And the Pro Football Focus marks:

2025: 42.4
2024: 50.9
2023: 51.5

Full disclosure: these numbers suggest Banks is absolutely terrible. But maybe he could be fixed in Minnesota if Bleacher Report is on to something.

GMEN HQ‘s Matt Sidney on Banks last month: “It’s time for Joe Schoen to move on from Deonte Banks. If you’ve watched this team play football, Banks’ lack of effort, head-scratching angles, and not being able to turn his head around has likely made you want to throw the clicker through the television — I’m not just projecting, right? If Schoen can convince a team he just hasn’t been utilized properly (return game not included… maybe?), then perhaps there’s a market for the 24-year-old.”

“Every team needs a corner, and it shouldn’t be too hard for someone else to get tricked into believing the former Maryland star can turn things around. It’s amazing what youth, an ideal build, an athletic profile, and a first-round pedigree can do for you during negotiations. Giants fans can only wait for the Adam Schefter post reporting the news.”

Banks will turn 25 this offseason.