Former NFL GM suggests Minnesota Vikings make absurd trade for former Pro Bowl QB

The quarterback position has defined the 2024 Minnesota Vikings offseason. From the raging debates on whether or not to keep Kirk Cousins to having the same ones on which quarterback to select in April's NFL Draft, it's been a heavy conversation.

As things currently sit, J.J. McCarthy is set to be the starting quarterback for the Vikings in 2025 and beyond with Sam Darnold at the helm for the 2024 season. It's not the ideal scenario but one the Vikings are comfortable with.

Russell Wilson to the Vikings?

With the quarterback situation the way it is, should the Vikings make a trade to fortify it? That's exactly what ESPN's Mike Tannenbaum said on ESPN's Get Up. He related the Vikings situation to 2016 when Teddy Bridgewater went down with a catastrophic knee injury by saying they should trade for Pittsburgh quarterback Russell Wilson.

"I think a win, win here is to trade Russell Wilson to Minnesota. I think he's a better quarterback than Sam Darnold. They certainly can battle it out. And then Ryan Tannehill still a free agent guys, and you go back to the two years that Ryan Tannehill was with Arthur Smith at Tennessee. They had an unbelievable two-year run, 18 and eight, they average 30 points per game, and at least initially, back up Justin fields. But now you have Justin Fields, who we already said is young. You have Ryan Tannehill, who knows the system and has done a great job with Arthur Smith in the past. And maybe you pick up an extra third or fourth-round pick."

Where do we begin with how absurd this trade proposal is? Well, let's start here. The 2024 Vikings are not like the 2016 team that had real Super Bowl aspirations. They are currently in a transition season before beginning their supposed "Super Bowl window" in 2025. The 2016 team was coming off of a division title and was a missed field goal away from advancing in the playoffs.

Second, the Vikings don't have a third or fourth-round pick to offer in 2025 and why would they consider that? Arguing that Wilson in 2024 being better than Darnold is a tough one, especially when you consider that the Denver Broncos are absorbing a dead salary cap hit of over $80 million for Wilson to not play for them.

Third, Wilson isn't even a fit for what the Vikings want to do. Head coach Kevin O'Connell's offense is predicated on throwing over the middle with anticipation and that is the one thing that Wilson doesn't like to do. It's a major struggle for him and that does not mesh well with the vision of the Vikings offense.

Lastly, why would the Vikings trade for him when the 1. like Darnold a lot and 2. could have signed Wilson back in March? They didn't make much of an effort to bring him in and for good reason. He isn't a fit for how the Vikings want to play.

Overall, this is just another example of the national media not understanding the Vikings.

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