The Lamar Jackson Rumors Begin for Vikings
Over the last couple of months, the Minnesota Vikings have cycled through 2026 offseason rumors about Joe Burrow, Kyler Murray, and Mac Jones, with a splash of Malik Willis. Ordinarily, that many high-profile quarterback names would be more than enough, but Mike Sando of The Athletic sweetened the pot this week, adding Baltimore Ravens passer Lamar Jackson to the mix.
The rumor carries weight because it forces Minnesota to confront some extremes. Jackson represents an out-of-the-box franchise quarterback, but acquiring him would require a significant financial commitment and trade compensation.
Jackson could evidently be on his way out of Baltimore, and the Vikings, in theory, would be a trade landing spot.
The Lamar Jackson Rumor Mill Won’t Leave Anytime Soon
Get ready for the Lamar Jackson rumor mill; it’s here for the Vikings.
The Athletic Kickstarts Jackson-Vikings Rumors
Jackson was not an obvious candidate to join Minnesota’s rumor mill, but until the Ravens outwardly recommit to him in 2026, the theory is now out in the open.
Sando wrote Monday, “The Baltimore Sun suggested Jackson would like to play for the Dolphins, whose stadium is 47 miles south of where Jackson graduated high school. The agent loved Minnesota as an under-the-radar destination.”
“The Vikings would send J.J. McCarthy to Baltimore as part of the deal, giving both QBs a fresh start. Jackson on artificial turf, in a dome? Look out. McCarthy with a Harbaugh? Worked well at Michigan, where his coach was Jim, not John.”
Fans saw the Sando remarks and did a double-take.
Sando added, “The Ravens, long rooted in the draft, could put the extra draft picks to use wisely (they drafted Jackson at No. 32, after all). Minnesota, stung by the success Vikings alums Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones enjoyed this season while McCarthy faltered, would recover in spectacular fashion, changing the dynamics of the NFC North.”
If the Vikings decide to go deep-sea fishing at quarterback in the offseason, realizing that J.J. McCarthy is not their answer, Jackson should be at the top of the list if Baltimore is willing to wheel and deal.
A Luka Doncic Style Deal
Coming up on one year ago, the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for a criminally low compensation package that sparked instant shock and outrage. The Jackson deal would do the same for spark, but the Vikings — or any trading team — won’t get a Doncician discount.
An agent told Sando in the same piece, “Lamar being traded could be similar to the Dallas Mavericks trading Luka Dončić. The Mavericks were complaining about Luka’s toughness, taking care of his body, work ethic.”
“Luka gets moved, he loses all that weight, he gets in great shape, and he’s got a new lease on life. Lamar might be the same. If Lamar were to be put on the block even quietly, and you are a team that is not established at quarterback, do whatever it takes.”
Jackson will turn 29 next week, so the trade price may not be obscene unholy, but it will be enough for a franchise to be on the hook for an almighty gamble.
Vikings Would Hope 2025 Jackson Is an Outlier
Quietly, Jackson has encountered a down year by his standards. He’s rushing for less than 30 yards per game for the first time in his career, has missed four games due to injury, and ranks 14th per EPA+CPOE (a low ranking for his usual standing).
Jackson has 20 total touchdowns this season; he had 45 last year.
It’s worth noting that Cam Newton played stylistically similar to Jackson from 2011 to 2021, and his career petered out around age 29 or 30. That’s where Jackson is right now on the internal clock. Whichever team landed Jackson via trade would just have to hope his career is different from Newton’s, because Newton absolutely fell off a production cliff in 2016 and 2017.
Former Ravens tight end Shannon Sharpe even recently suggested that Baltimore should ride the hot hand with Tyler Huntley over Jackson.
Immediate Super Bowl Stakes
Not for nothing, if the Vikings acquired Jackson for a king’s ransom — or Joe Burrow, who is also in the purple rumor mill — they’d be legitimate Super Bowl contenders overnight.
Minnesota has battled its way to an 8-8 record in 2025 despite putting up utterly putrid quarterback play for much of the season. No better evidence exists than the Vikings’ Christmas Day win. Minnesota defeated Detroit by 13 points while throwing for three net passing yards.
The Vikings would morph into a serious contender with the snap of two fingers if they found a way to land Jackson via trade.
In all likelihood, though, Baltimore will come to its senses, keep Jackson, and the rumors will die.
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