The Minnesota Vikings have some work to do this offseason. Although defensive coordinator Brian Flores is expected to return, there are plenty of questions about the offense heading into the 2026 NFL season.
Starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy has struggled to stay healthy since being drafted by the Vikings, and his play has been questionable when he is on the field for the purple and gold, forcing Minnesota to seek help at that position.
The purple and gold cannot afford to go into the season with Max Brosmer as their backup quarterback and not have any serious competition for McCarthy to help push him to grow and develop as a passer.
Minnesota Vikings are a logical team to trade for San Francisco 49ers QB Mac Jones
One name that has been commonly associated with the Vikings lately is Mac Jones. The San Francisco 49ers quarterback was a capable backup for Brock Purdy and could play the same role in Kevin O'Connell's offense.
Recently, FanSided's Christopher Kline shared an article that matched some of the top trade candidates with teams that make sense for them, and Mac Jones was linked to Minnesota.
Here is what Kline said about Jones' fit with the Vikings:
"The decision to move on from Sam Darnold has aged like milk; even if Minnesota still believes in McCarthy long term, finding a competent bridge quarterback should be an offseason priority."
Dwelling on the success of Sam Darnold in Seattle might not be super relevant to the current situation in Minnesota, but doing everything the team can do to ensure it doesn't have a repeat of the struggles from last year needs to be a priority.
Jones is entering the second season of his two-year, $8.41 million deal. Depending on what Minnesota would have to give up to acquire his rights, he could be a relatively inexpensive option to provide depth and competition at quarterback.
Considering the 49ers might be looking for a pass-catcher, there is a chance the Vikings could look to trade one of their receivers to San Francisco to avoid using draft picks in the trade.
The salary cap situation and potential trades will be interesting to watch with the Minnesota Vikings this offseason. Whether or not Mac Jones is wearing a purple and gold jersey in 2026 will be something fans will want to keep a close eye on.