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Week 18 has arrived, the Minnesota Vikings are hosting their most hated rival, and the regular season is effectively over for the purple team, even if the clock says otherwise. What’s next is positioning, not on the field, but in the front office, where decision-making happens.
Minnesota’s QB conversation keeps widening, but the real story is a bit of leverage: who’s available, what it would cost, and what’s actually realistic.
Minnesota is about to enter an offseason loaded with decisions and rumors to boot. Contracts, jobs, and direction are all up for grabs. With that in mind, here’s the latest spin through the Purple Rumor Mill as the Vikings close the book on 2025 and brace for what comes next.
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Lamar Jackson Buzz, Malik Willis Fit, and the Latest Burrow Thread
It’s the final Vikings rumor mill of the 2025 regular season.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson goes through warmups on Dec. 25, 2024, at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, ahead of a matchup with the Houston Texans. The pregame sequence captured Jackson’s routine preparation and focus before kickoff, reflecting the Ravens’ reliance on his tempo-setting presence in a nationally watched holiday game. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images.
Rumor: The Vikings could express interest in Lamar Jackson this offseason if the Baltimore Ravens make him available via trade.
The Athletic‘s Mike Sando introduced Jackson to the Vikings’ rumor mill this week.
Sando cracked open the Jackson door on Monday, writing, “The Baltimore Sun suggested Jackson would like to play for the Dolphins, whose stadium is 47 miles south of where Jackson graduated high school. The agent loved Minnesota as an under-the-radar destination.”
“The Vikings would send J.J. McCarthy to Baltimore as part of the deal, giving both QBs a fresh start. Jackson on artificial turf, in a dome? Look out. McCarthy with a Harbaugh? Worked well at Michigan, where his coach was Jim, not John.”
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Jackson was connected to the Vikings’ rumor mill, too, a couple of years ago during the offseason. He ultimately re-signed with the Ravens.
Sando added, “The Ravens, long rooted in the draft, could put the extra draft picks to use wisely (they drafted Jackson at No. 32, after all). Minnesota, stung by the success Vikings alums Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones enjoyed this season while McCarthy faltered, would recover in spectacular fashion, changing the dynamics of the NFC North.”
If Minnesota decides to go deep-sea fishing at quarterback — so, fully accepting that McCarthy may not be the long-term answer — Jackson belongs at the very top of the board next to Joe Burrow, assuming Baltimore even allows it. The idea may be bold, uncomfortable, and expensive. But that’s the tier of swing mentioned by Sando.
Rumor: Malik Willis is the perfect candidate to sign as a competitor with J.J. McCarthy in 2026.
Willis balled out last weekend in relief of Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love. Fans began to envision Willis in purple.
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VikingsCentral tweeted last Sunday, “I’m about 90% sure Malik Willis is going to be a Viking.. just makes sense. 26 years old. Big arm. Let’s bring him in to compete.”
A popular Vikings account on social media called “The Brohoian” tweeted, “Not even kidding the Vikings bringing Malik Willis in to compete makes some sense. He actually looks pretty good every time I watch him.”
Purple Insider’s Matthew Coller added, “If you were thinking about the Vikings signing Malik Willis… he probably just played himself out of their price range.”
Kalshi Sports’ Dustin Klug: “Vikings need to get Malik Willis on the roster for 2026.”
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Willis isn’t necessarily a textbook Kevin O’Connell-style quarterback, but the guy has moxie and is finally proving why many draft heads had him as 1st-Rounder four years ago.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis jogs onto the field on Dec. 20, 2025, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, before facing the Chicago Bears. The moment highlighted Willis’ pregame routine as Green Bay prepared for a cold-weather divisional matchup, offering a glimpse into the quarterback’s readiness role during a late-season NFC North showdown. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
Willis will be a free agent in March. Minnesota won’t have to trade with Green Bay to get him, unlike options such as Mac Jones or Kyler Murray.
Rumor: There’s a new voice connecting Joe Burrow to Minnesota if Burrow eventually requests a trade.
This week brought another Burrow mention for the Vikings. This time, CBS Sports did the honors.
Jones wrote a week ago, “Elite quarterbacks staying in just one place is more rare than one would think. Troy Aikman is the last Hall of Fame quarterback to have played for just one team, and he was inducted into the Hall two decades ago.”
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“Perhaps Ben Roethlisberger is the only future Hall candidate who could get in having worn just one jersey (since Hall voters did not think Eli Manning was worthy of deep-finalist consideration last year). Teams that figure to be in the quarterback market include the Raiders, Browns, Jets, Dolphins and Cardinals. The Steelers, Colts, Rams and Vikings could also all be in need of a quarterback depending upon how the early offseason plays out.”
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow lines up during the first quarter on Sep. 29, 2024, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, against the Carolina Panthers. The image captured Burrow surveying the defense early, reflecting Cincinnati’s effort to establish rhythm and tempo during a road game that tested protection and execution. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images.
The Bengals are closing out the season strong, and head coach Zac Taylor might even stay in his job. A Burrwo trade — anywhere — feels less likely than it did a month ago.
But if Burrow were to request a trade, the Vikings would be near the top of the list, mainly because they play in the NFC and Minnesota employs Burrow’s college teammate, Justin Jefferson.
This would have to be driven by Burrow. The Bengals won’t decide to trade him on their own. Why would they?
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