ESPN Pitches Vikings QB Trade Idea
A Minnesota Vikings supporter was pictured Jan 21, 2018, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from the stands at Lincoln Financial Field before the NFC Championship matchup against the Eagles. The fan joined thousands of Minnesota faithful who traveled to the East Coast in hopes of seeing their team reach the Super Bowl, adding energy to the high-stakes postseason atmosphere. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings probably won’t trade any quarterback before the NFL’s deadline in five weeks, but according to ESPN, the club could explore shopping Carson Wentz elsewhere.
In all likelihood, the Minnesota Vikings won’t trade a quarterback away this month or next, but the theory is out there nevertheless, thanks to ESPN.
Dan Graziano sized up the league’s trade landscape this week, and per him, Wentz could generate a few phone calls.
Carson Wentz … Available for Trade by the Minnesota Vikings?
Don’t bet on it, but the theory is out there.
Minnesota quarterback C. Wentz (11) scrambled Sep 21, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during first-half action against the Cincinnati Bengals at U.S. Bank Stadium. Wentz left the pocket under defensive pressure, using his mobility to extend the play as Minnesota worked to generate offense in the divisional matchup. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
ESPN Casually Suggests Carson Wentz Trade for Vikings
Scouring the league for possible quarterback deals before the November deadline, Graziano opined: “True or false: A quarterback will be traded before the deadline. True. Now, it could be someone such as Carson Wentz or Kenny Pickett, which wouldn’t exactly make headlines, but I think you’re asking if it could be someone such as Kirk Cousins or Russell Wilson or one of the Cleveland rookies (Dillon Gabriel was named the Browns starter Wednesday morning).”
“Anything’s possible. It doesn’t feel like Wilson has a real role in New York, where rookie Jaxson Dart is now the starter and Jameis Winston is signed through 2026 to be his backup.”
No Wentz trade has really been discussed by anybody until the ESPN article.
“Wilson’s trade value is also likely very low right now, so the Giants might wait until someone gets desperate to ship him out. Cousins’ situation in Atlanta, as the veteran backup behind Michael Penix Jr., is one we’ve frequently discussed. He could get dealt, but Atlanta is not desperate to deal him and is still asking for a relatively high price,” Graziano added.
And there you have it. The birth of a tiny Wentz rumor mill.
Unlikely — But Interesting
Trading Wentz before the deadline is unlikely if one considers the depth chart.
For now, Minnesota has J.J. McCarthy, Wentz, rookie Max Brosmer, and emergency quarterback Desmond Ridder. McCarthy should return to the lineup in a couple of weeks, but that won’t mean that Wentz is irrelevant or useless.
The Vikings will probably wrap their arms around depth, with the season heating up upon McCarthy’s return.
Insurance for an Oft-Injured Young QB
After this weekend, McCarthy will have missed 20 of his first 22 eligible games in the NFL. The man is injury-prone until he isn’t.
Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah were photographed in spring 2025 during an offseason gathering. O’Connell, who joined Minnesota in 2022, jokingly sported a mustache in a playful moment alongside Adofo-Mensah, highlighting the camaraderie between the team’s top decision-makers after three seasons of competitive success.
When a club employs a player susceptible to injury, depth has to remain. Wentz is the depth.
In theory, Minnesota could absolutely love Max Brosmer behind the scenes. But if that were the case, well, it would probably be playing Brosmer now instead of Wentz. The veteran passer may not be the perfect backup quarterback, but he has the experience and has already proved it through a couple of games.
Wentz’s essential role behind McCarthy likely disqualifies the ESPN trade theory.
Max Brosmer Scenes if So
On Brosmer, he’d be the only reason that Minnesota could offload Wentz.
For example, assume Minnesota’s season turns incredibly rocky in the next several weeks, and by the time the trade deadline rolls around, the franchise has a 2-6 record. The Vikings don’t usually quit on a season; however, a 2-6 mark may be non-fixable.
So, in accordance with the ESPN theory, Minnesota acknowledges that 2025 will be a bumpy ride the rest of the way, trades Wentz for a late-round pick, promotes Brosmer to QB2, Ridder to QB3, and rolls with McCarthy hell or high water.
Minnesota quarterback C. Wentz (11) ran Sep 21, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during first-quarter play against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3 at U.S. Bank Stadium. Wentz attempted to avoid tacklers as he pushed upfield, showcasing his ability to extend plays with his legs in the early stages of the home game. © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
That’s about the only plausible scenario for the Graziano idea to materialize.
Anthony Richardson on the Block?
Graziano also mentioned Anthony Richardson of the Indianapolis Colts as a player who could be on the move:
Richardson is an interesting one. I remember a couple of teams wondering whether Indy would be open to moving him during free agency. So far, they’ve insisted they aren’t, but you’re right. If Jones keeps playing well and leads them to their first division title in more than a decade, who’s to say the Colts don’t decide he’s their future at quarterback and sign him to an extension?
In general, acquiring a starting QB at the trade deadline is tough, because in most cases it’s a guy who must learn a new offense on the fly. By the time he’s up to speed, it could be too late for him to save the season. That’s why someone like Richardson, whom teams might view for development in the long term, makes more sense. But there are situations that come up where a team with high hopes finds itself with a sudden need and might be willing to take the risks involved with bringing in someone from outside its system, right?
The NFL trade deadline is 33 days away.
