Vikings’ QB Reality Setting In as Options Disappear
The quarterback market has seen a lot of movement over the last few days, with teams finding new passers and passers finding new homes. Through the first couple of days and change of free agency, the fog is lifting.
On Wednesday, the Indianapolis Colts struck their expected deal with ex-Vikings practice-squadder Daniel Jones. Despite his Achilles injury, Jones received a nice deal in the AFC South.
ESPN’s report: “The Indianapolis Colts and quarterback Daniel Jones reached agreement Wednesday on a two-year, $88 million contract that can be worth up to $100 million, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Jones, recovering from a torn Achilles, is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season and one source told Schefter he ‘absolutely’ expects him to be ready for training camp.
A torn Achilles ended his season and certainly put his availability early in 2026 in jeopardy. It is without a doubt a massive investment given Jones’ career track record and the injury history, which also includes a torn ACL.
Yet, the Colts bank on the fact that Jones is coming off a good year with 24 touchdowns in 13 games.
Jones signed with the Indianapolis Colts last offseason to challenge Anthony Richardson, the former 4th overall pick. The Vikings also wanted his services for 2025, and things might have gone a lot differently in the Twin Cities with him in the building, but they missed out.
Jones has proven he works in Shane Steichen’s offensive system, a guarantee they wouldn’t have had with another signing such as Kyler Murray, Tua Tagovailoa, or Kirk Cousins.
That brings us to the other QB dominoes.
Tagovailoa took Cousins’ former spot on the Atlanta Falcons as the veteran presence next to Michael Penix. Kevin Stefanski’s QB room is set.
At the start of free agency, Tagovailoa’s former team, the Dolphins, signed Malik Willis to a contract, taking the best free agent QB but also the Dolphins out of all QB considerations.
On Tuesday, the New York Jets traded for Geno Smith, who’s now quarterbacking the team that once drafted him. Fernando Mendoza is anticipated to become the Raiders’ new QB1.
Arizona is another team with quarterback movement. As they are expected to release Kyler Murray, they have committed to entering the 2026 campaign with Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew.
That leaves only two openings: Pittsburgh and Minnesota. The three realistic starting QB options are Kyler Murray, Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins.
With most quarterback situations resolved leaguewide, leverage now shifts to the remaining teams. Minnesota and Pittsburgh can afford patience while other options disappear, giving them clearer negotiating positions with veteran passers once releases become official. Timing now matters as much as money — the first team to act could secure the preferred fit, while hesitation risks settling for a fallback plan in a market that has rapidly thinned.
The Steelers hired Rodgers’ former coach, Mike McCarthy, and they await Rodgers’ retirement decision. He’s the only true free agent, as Cousins and Murray have not yet been released.
Once they are, teams can chat with them and fill their QB voids with them.
The Vikings want to find someone who can compete with J.J. McCarthy or just snatch the job outright. Murray is certainly the most inspiring signal-caller available. A talented passer with a full season of decent play as recently as 2024 under his belt, Murray would only cost $1.3 million, while the Cardinals pay his remaining salary to play for someone else.
Unless the Steelers swoop in, and they haven’t even been rumored to be “in” on Murray, the Vikings are the only remaining place with a realistic starting opportunity for the top pick from 2019.
The quarterback situation in Minnesota could find its answer sooner rather than later and all signs point to Murray.