Currently, Kyler Murray is in line to take over as the new starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings in the 2026 season. However, Murray is only under contract for a year with the Vikings, so it's very possible that Minnesota, once again, could be in need of a new starting signal-caller in 2027.
Baker Mayfield's current deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers also expires after the upcoming season, and recently, The Athletic's Jeff Howe named the Vikings as "an obvious fit" for the 30-year-old quarterback if he hits free agency in 2027.
Adding Mayfield next year, however, likely wouldn't be cheap, so Minnesota would have to ask itself if they want to get back into the position of attempting to compete for a championship with a starting quarterback who takes up a significant portion of the their salary cap.
Could Baker Mayfield land with the Minnesota Vikings in 2027?
Howe mentioned that Mayfield and the Bucs are expected to negotiate a possible extension for the quarterback this offseason, and a new deal could potentially make him one of the highest-paid passers in the NFL.
So, if that's the case, we're talking at least $50 million per year for Mayfield, and if he can't get that from Tampa Bay, then he'll likely bet on himself next season with the hopes to cash-in in 2027.
Ideally, the Vikings won't need a new starting quarterback after the 2026 season.
If all goes well with Murray, Minnesota will likely attempt to keep him around with his own new lucrative, multi-year contract that would help the team avoid another situation similar to the one they had with Sam Darnold last offseason.
Even if Murray does leave after the 2026 campaign, pursuing Mayfield might not even be the Vikings' top option in 2027.
This might sound crazy, but J.J. McCarthy becoming QB1 for the Vikings again for the 2027 season is still a possibility. And even if that doesn't happen, there are expected to be several quarterback prospects in the 2027 NFL Draft with franchise-altering potential if Minnesota wants to go down that path again.
The Vikings will have multiple quarterback options after the 2026 season, and signing Mayfield in free agency could be one of them. At this point, it's nothing more than that, but it's certainly something to keep in mind for next year.