The NFL quarterback carousel is spinning once again, and the Minnesota Vikings are at the center of the storm. After a surprising move to bench Sam Howell in favor of Brett Rypien over the weekend, the Vikings have signaled they’re done evaluating the former Washington Commanders starter. This decision has ignited trade rumors, with Minnesota now positioned to shake up their quarterback room in a big way. While high-profile names like Anthony Richardson, Shedeur Sanders, and even former Vikings star Kirk Cousins have surfaced in discussions, none seem to fit Minnesota’s immediate needs. Instead, the Vikings are eyeing a low-cost, high-experience veteran to stabilize their roster—and Buffalo Bills backup Mitchell Trubisky could be the perfect target for a blockbuster trade.
Sam Howell’s tenure in Minnesota has hit a dead end. After being benched for journeyman Brett Rypien, it’s clear the Vikings have seen enough. The team’s low-cost quarterback strategy, built around developing rookie J.J. McCarthy as their franchise cornerstone, demands a reliable veteran backup who can step in without disrupting the young signal-caller’s growth. Howell, it seems, isn’t that guy. His benching has opened the door to a flurry of trade possibilities, with Minnesota now scouring the market for a seasoned quarterback to complement their long-term plan.
Several high-profile quarterbacks could become available in the coming weeks, but each comes with complications for Minnesota’s unique situation.
Anthony Richardson (Indianapolis Colts): The Colts’ former first-round pick is reportedly on thin ice, but his potential trade makes more sense next offseason. As a long-term project, Richardson could compete with McCarthy for the starting role, but that’s a headache the Vikings don’t need in 2025.
Shedeur Sanders (Cleveland Browns): The rookie phenom has been floated as a trade candidate by former NFL players, but his lack of experience makes him a poor fit for Minnesota’s immediate need for a dependable backup.
Kirk Cousins (Atlanta Falcons): A reunion with the former Vikings starter would be poetic, but problematic. Cousins, now Atlanta’s QB2, carries the weight of a six-year tenure in Minnesota that included a playoff run in 2022. His presence could create undue pressure on McCarthy, who might feel the veteran looking over his shoulder.
None of these options align perfectly with Minnesota’s goal: a proven veteran on a cheap, short-term deal who can provide stability without threatening McCarthy’s development.
The Vikings’ search for a cost-effective, experienced backup leads straight to Buffalo Bills quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. Selected No. 2 overall by the Chicago Bears in the 2017 NFL Draft, Trubisky has carved out a solid career as an eight-year veteran with a 31-26 record as a starter. Now in the second year of a two-year, $5.25 million contract as Josh Allen’s backup, Trubisky is the quintessential “security blanket” quarterback—reliable, experienced, and affordable.
In Buffalo, however, Trubisky’s role is largely ceremonial. Josh Allen, the reigning NFL MVP, has missed just one regular-season start in six years, rendering Trubisky’s 26 pass attempts in 2024 little more than garbage-time reps. With two other quarterbacks, Mike White and Shane Buechele, on the Bills’ roster, Trubisky is expendable—especially if the right trade offer comes along.
The Vikings could craft an enticing deal to pry Trubisky from Buffalo. A proposed trade package could mirror the recent Cleveland Browns-Philadelphia Eagles deal for Kenny Pickett, a quarterback with a similar profile to Trubisky: a former first-round pick with a winning but unspectacular record and high-end traits that haven’t fully translated to NFL stardom. In that trade, Cleveland sent reserve quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round pick to Philadelphia for Pickett.
Minnesota could follow suit, offering Sam Howell—another former NFL starter—as a throw-in to bolster Buffalo’s quarterback depth behind Allen, along with a future fifth-round draft pick. While Buffalo has little incentive to move Trubisky given Allen’s durability, the addition of Howell and a draft asset could be enough to spark a deal. Howell, at just 25 years old, offers long-term potential as a backup, while the fifth-rounder sweetens the pot for a Bills team looking to build around their superstar quarterback.
Trubisky checks every box for the Vikings’ needs. His eight years of NFL experience provide a steady hand in case McCarthy falters or faces injury. His modest contract aligns with Minnesota’s low-cost quarterback philosophy, avoiding the financial burden of a bigger name like Cousins. Most importantly, Trubisky’s journeyman status ensures he won’t loom as a threat to McCarthy’s development, allowing the rookie to grow without the pressure of a high-profile veteran waiting in the wings.
At 31, Trubisky is far from the franchise savior some envisioned when he was drafted ahead of Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson in 2017. But as a bridge or backup, he’s a proven commodity with a track record of winning games in the NFL. For a Vikings team aiming to balance present stability with future potential, Trubisky could be the missing piece.
The Vikings’ decision to move on from Sam Howell has set the stage for a bold move in the trade market. While big names like Richardson, Sanders, and Cousins will continue to generate buzz, it’s Mitchell Trubisky who emerges as the most logical target for Minnesota. A trade centered around Howell and a fifth-round pick could bring the former Bears bust to U.S. Bank Stadium, offering the Vikings a chance to redeem a once-promising career while solidifying their quarterback room for 2025. In a league defined by quarterback chaos, this blockbuster deal could be the spark that keeps Minnesota’s playoff hopes alive.