‘Likely’ Trade Candidate Emerges for Vikings Amid New QB Struggles

With reports swirling about Sam Howell’s struggles early in Vikings training camp, it’s fair to wonder if Minnesota might start exploring a trade for a veteran quarterback. Joe Flacco could be an ideal fit.

According to The Athletic’s Alec Lewis, Minnesota’s “backup quarterback situation is off to a shaky start,” and while it’s early in training camp, having a solid option behind second-year starter J.J. McCarthy feels like a necessity.

“The best way to sum up Howell’s performance is a beat too slow,” Lewis added. “Without the post-practice film, it’s impossible to assess each rep accurately. Is Howell taking a hitch because he’s not seeing the picture correctly, or is he waiting a split second extra because the receiver was rerouted by a cornerback? Whatever the case, it feels fair to say that Howell hasn’t consistently pulled the trigger promptly.”

Meanwhile, over in Cleveland, ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported it’s “likely” the Browns will “end up trading” Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders before Week 1 rolls around.

Flacco’s Career Has Been Very Long & Very Successful

Getty ImagesQB Joe Flacco would be an ideal backup for Minnesota Vikings starter J.J. McCarthy.

 

Flacco was the starter for the Baltimore Ravens from 2008 through mid‑2018, earning six playoff berths, two AFC North titles, and three AFC Championship game appearances.

Flacco’s peak arrived in the 2012 postseason, when he led the Ravens to a Super Bowl 47 title. He tied the NFL single‑postseason record with 11 touchdown passes, throwing no interceptions in the process. He also took home Super Bowl MVP honors that year. Beyond that, he holds numerous NFL and Ravens franchise records, including most passing yards, TDs and completions in team history.

In 2023, Flacco won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award, becoming the oldest recipient since 1963, after leading the Cleveland Browns to a dramatic playoff berth with four wins in five starts.

Flacco joined the Browns in late 2023 after Deshaun Watson’s season‑ending injury and immediately turned around the team’s fortunes: in his five starts he threw for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions, guiding Cleveland to the postseason.

In 2024, Flacco signed a one‑year deal with the Indianapolis Colts. He appeared in eight games (six starts), throwing for 1,761 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions, completing over 65% of his passes.

He has 17 seasons of experience, including loads in the postseason, which could be a very valuable trait a for a contender like the Vikings.

Why Joe Flacco Could Be a Solid Backup QB for the Minnesota Vikings Behind J.J. McCarthy

Flacco’s success in Kevin Stefanski’s offense with Cleveland in 2023—built on play-action, intermediate throws, and fewer shotgun snaps—is directly applicable to what coaches like Kevin O’Connell run: a controlled, timing‑based system with reliance on experienced decision‑makers. His history executing in such schemes makes him an ideal system‑fit veteran to mentor a young QB like McCarthy.

Flacco would also come at a modest cost relative to younger free agents. Cleveland paid him $4 million base with incentives, so Minnesota could acquire him cheaply, likely via trade if there’s any truth to Graziano’s report about the Browns wanting to offload at least one QB soon.

It’s also fair to suggest that Flacco’s presence would stabilize the QBs room quite a bit, as neither Howell nor Brett Rypien are near as experienced or valuable. If the Browns are indeed willing to let him walk, the Vikings should be on the phone to see what it would take to bring him to the Twin Cities.