The Minnesota Vikings are off to a hot start this season, going 5-0 before heading into their Week 6 bye. One of the biggest surprises this year has been the play of quarterback Sam Darnold, who is having a career resurgence with the purple and gold.
However, not everyone is sold on Darnold being the Vikings' short-term answer. One expert thinks Minnesota should attempt to swing a blockbuster trade for a quarterback before the Nov. 5 deadline this year.
Vikings suggested to ‘entertain’ puzzling trade for Rams QB Matthew Stafford
On Saturday, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk shared an article about how Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford could be a potential trade candidate this season and mentioned the purple and gold as a possible destination for the veteran passer.
"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 via Pro Football Talk
Sam Darnold did not have his best game of the season against a tough New York Jets defense during Minnesota's Week 5 matchup, but suggesting he may have been exposed and a trade would be wise if the Vikings lose in Week 7 to Detroit is a bit extreme.
To make the probability of this deal happening even less likely, the Minnesota Vikings already have a glaring lack of draft picks in 2025. As it stands, Minnesota only has three picks in the 2025 NFL Draft with a pick in Round 1 and a pair of picks in Round 5. Although that doesn't account for any compensatory picks that might be earned, that makes a deal extremely unlikely.
Add to the mix that the Vikings used a first-round pick in 2024 on Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, and you have a situation where 36-year-old quarterback Matthew Stafford makes even less sense for Minnesota.
It wouldn't be awful for the Minnesota Vikings to go all-in on a season that seems like it could be special, but Mike Florio's mention of trading for Matthew Stafford doesn't seem like it would be the best move, unless Darnold truly has been exposed and teams can exploit him going forward.
