Controversial NFL Insider Floats Minnesota Vikings QB Trade That Would Rock the NFL

The Minnesota Vikings are undefeated and in the midst of a well-deserved bye week. They are among the top contenders to win a Super Bowl. Head coach Kevin O’Connell has the offense humming, while Brian Flores has worked wonders with the defense. That’s not enough for one well-known NFL insider to float a blockbuster trade that would send new QB Sam Darnold packing

Thus far Darnold has done everything the Minnesota Vikings have asked of him. He has been consistently productive, and remains a top MVP candidate and everyone at TCO Performance Center remains fully bought in on Darnold Mania.

What if the Minnesota Vikings got a chance at Matthew Stafford… this season?

But… what if the Vikings got an opportunity to upgrade at QB before the NFL Trade Deadline? It never really happens, but does that mean it won’t? The Los Angeles Rams are bad, and rumors are swirling around Hollywood that a trade may be afoot. Then, on Saturday, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio took it a step further and suggested the Minnesota Vikings as a landing spot that COULD make sense.

“If, for example, the Jets provided a blueprint for making Sam Darnold look mortal, the Vikings would be wise (if they lose to the Lions and then to Stafford’s Rams) to at least entertain the possibility of an upgrade. (Coincidentally, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell and Stafford worked together for a year in L.A. And they both won a Super Bowl ring for their efforts.)”

Mike Florio on the Vikings trading for Matthew Stafford (Pro Football Talk)

Florio floating Minnesota as a mid-season destination for Stafford seems like a curious decision. But, if you look beyond the initial shock of this rumor… the trade fit between the Rams and Vikings isn’t that crazy. Remember, there is familiarity between Kevin O’Connell and Matt Stafford, from their time together in 2021.

Sam Darnold is our guy… probably

That doesn’t make this deal likely to happen, by any means. An injury to Darnold could certainly change things rather quickly. Until then, this is probably not going to happen. Would an upgrade from Darnold to Stafford really be worth shaking up the locker room that drastically?

As Vikings fans, we are all so freaking proud of you, Sam Darnold💜 pic.twitter.com/x4gOo5cFzW

— A L I S S A (@MissAlissaS) October 6, 2024

Related: Minnesota Vikings Expected to do Something Before NFL Trade Deadline

Stafford may be a nominal upgrade over Darnold. That could be debated though. Stafford also has two years remaining on his contract. Trading him would incur big cap penalties for the Rams, too. The trade might make more sense for the Rams, if they could figure out the cap penalties. Unloading Stafford for a rehabilitated Darnold wouldn’t be a terrible proposition.

More than likely, the Vikings will continue to search for avenues to upgrade the team elsewhere. They still could make a substantial move at the defensive tackle position. Depth across the roster is always worth considering, and injuries may take place over the next couple of weeks.

Related: 6 Minnesota Vikings Trades We’d Love To See After the Bye, Including An All-Pro

The trade deadline doesn’t rear its head until November 5. The Minnesota Vikings have some time to wait things out. Barring a Sam Darnold injury, I can’t see them brining in a starting QB. But who really knows… right?