Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Vikings Urged to Trade for Former Super Bowl QB to Join J.J. McCarthy

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Trevor Squire | Last updated Jul 17, 2025 3:22 PM ET

The Minnesota Vikings are all-in on J.J. McCarthy, opting to decline signing a veteran quarterback to back up the 22-year-old quarterback entering his first season as a starter.

While the Vikings landed Sam Howell in a Day 3 pick-swap with the Seattle Seahawks, Howell doesn't have an encouraging NFL resume and can be viewed as no more than a spot-starter who could keep the team afloat if McCarthy misses a few games.

However, the Vikings deserve more than hanging their hopes on Howell long-term. The team invested more than $300 million into new contracts, adding a cast of Pro Bowl talent on both lines as the finishing touches to a read-to-win roster.

Finding a better quarterback insurance policy for McCarthy should be a priority, and a former Super Bowl MVP's name is floating in the trade market.

On July 16, Heavy.com's Max Dible urged the Vikings to make a trade for Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco, who was considered the trade the Browns must consider before the start of the season.

"Matt Holder of Bleacher Report advised the Browns to deal Flacco for draft capital anyway, and Minnesota could offer a Day-3 pick that sends a real asset back Cleveland’s way for a quarterback they may not need/use this season and almost certainly won’t include on the roster come spring 2026," Dible wrote.

Cleveland is in a precarious position with its quarterback group. Flacco and Kenny Pickett appear to be frontrunners for the starting job that coach Kevin Stefanski has declared is open before training camp -- leaving the door open for rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.

None of these quarterbacks appears poised to lead a Super Bowl run. However, Flacco could be an ideal veteran backup who has a better chance to string together a Nick Foles-like run in the postseason than Howell in the event McCarthy misses time.

Flacco won Comeback Player of the Year in 2023 for winning four of five starts to close the regular season, ultimately clinching a playoff berth for Cleveland.

Meanwhile, the Browns, still searching for answers at quarterback, would be wise to give one of the rookies as much runway as possible. If Sanders or Gabriel does well, they have their guy.

If not, they'll find themselves with a top-five pick in next year's draft to address the position.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: