$34 Million QB With Big Upside Emerges as Vikings’ Possible Trade Option

The Minnesota Vikings have acknowledged by their approach to coaching up J.J. McCarthy in training camp that the margin for error under center is essentially zero in 2025.

McCarthy has got to hit after the Vikings let Sam Darnold leave for a starting job with the Seattle Seahawks and watched Daniel Jones walk away for a better offer/shot to win the QB1 title with the Indianapolis Colts.

As it looks now, Darnold is definitely the starter in Seattle and Jones is the clear favorite to win the job over third-year signal caller Anthony Richardson in Indy. The latter of the two situations, however, could open up a play for Minnesota to add depth and high-end talent to its quarterback room behind McCarthy.

Richardson and head coach Kevin O’Connell have a strong relationship, as documented by an interaction between the two following a regular season game last year. The Colts had benched Richardson for Joe Flacco during that stretch of play, and O’Connell took the time out to encourage the young, hyper-athletic quarterback and let Richardson know that he still believes in him.

Indianapolis, however, may be past the point of no return with Richardson if they award his job to Jones, especially after benching Richardson last year. In that case, the Colts could end up putting Richardson on the trade block, and Minnesota would be a logical suitor.

Daniel Jones Could Clear Path for Vikings to Trade With Colts for Anthony Richardson

It isn’t a guarantee that Jones wins the job from Richardson, though reports coming out of Indianapolis indicate clearly that the former New York Giants starter has a firm lead in the competition heading into training camp.

“Daniel Jones is QB1 (for now). The Colts signed the ex-Giants/Vikings quarterback in free agency to challenge Anthony Richardson for the QB1 title in Indy, and Jones has already taken a significant lead in what was supposed to be a wide-open quarterback competition,” James Boyd of The Athletic wrote on Monday, June 23. “Richardson, the 2023 No. 4 pick, aggravated the surgically repaired AC joint in his throwing shoulder May 29 and was shut down for the rest of the spring. There is no timetable for his return, per Colts coach Shane Steichen, which further positions Jones to take over as the Week 1 starter.”

Richardson has high-end arm strength and mobility, even by NFL standards, and needs development more than anything. That happens to be one of O’Connell’s strengths.

Vikings May Soon Find Themselves in Need of QB Other Than J.J. McCarthy, Sam Howell

Still just 23 years old, Richardson has two seasons remaining on his $34 million rookie contract with a team option next summer for a fifth year in 2027.

Minnesota is looking down the barrel of a nearly $60 million salary cap deficit in 2026 and, barring a McCarthy injury, isn’t going to be bad enough this year to earn a high draft pick and lay claim to one of the best QBs in the 2026 class on a rookie scale deal.

As such, making a move for a guy like Richardson as insurance should McCarthy eventually falter could make more sense than trading a mid-round draft pick and taking on $10 million of Kirk Cousins‘ 2025 salary for one year.

The Vikings aren’t necessarily in the market for another quarterback after trading with the Seahawks for Sam Howell during draft weekend. However, if Howell and/or McCarthy struggle in training camp, Minnesota is likely to at least seriously consider its options under center.