Carson Wentz will start for the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night against the Buffalo Bills, Kevin O'Connell told reporters Thursday. Kyler Murray is dealing with a hamstring injury that will be "week-to-week", opening the door for the quarterback change.
But even if Wentz provides a short-term spark for the Vikings' offense, that won't stop speculation about a potential quarterback trade. Bleacher Report's Moe Moton believes Minnesota should trade for San Francisco 49ers backup Mac Jones before Tuesday's trade deadline.
"According to The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt, the San Francisco 49ers might demand a second-round pick and more for Jones, but it would be worth it for the Vikings, who have been trying to stabilize the quarterback position since
Kirk Cousins' departure following the 2023 season," Moton wrote on Wednesday.
"In 11 games (eight starts) last year, Jones threw for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions," Moton continued. "He was a highly productive and efficient starter while filling in for an injured Brock Purdy."
Even with Wentz taking over, the Vikings are now one hit away from having to turn to second-year quarterback Max Brosmer. That could add urgency not only to improving the starting quarterback but also to improving the overall depth of the room.
The biggest roadblock to a trade would be the 49ers' interest in offloading Jones to an NFC rival. San Francisco is 6-1 right now, and they play Minnesota on November 22 in Mexico City. So Jones could not only bolster the Vikings' playoff seeding for the rest of the season, but also help them beat the 49ers in a few weeks.
Minnesota will likely try to trade for a quarterback. Although Jones would be one of the most attractive options, San Francisco may not let that happen.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Analyst suggests trade idea for the Vikings ahead of the deadline
