QB Trade Rumor for Vikings Takes a Gut Punch
The Will Levis to the Minnesota Vikings rumors might already be dead on arrival.
QB Trade Rumor for Vikings Takes a Gut Punch
The purple team arguably needs a backup quarterback in 2025 to support J.J. McCarthy, and some conjured Levis’ name last week as a viable trade option.
However, thanks to comments from new Tennessee Titans boss Chad Brinker, Levis isn’t for sale.
Titans Boss Says “Nope” to Levis Trade
Brinker said over the weekend about Levis trade fodder, “That’s a false report. We have not contacted anybody, and nobody has contacted us about Will Levis. I don’t think anything has changed from the time somebody asked me about this a month ago.”
Onlookers have considered Levis quasi-expendable this offseason because the Titans own the draft’s first overall pick.
“What’s the plan with Will Levis? The plan with Will Levis is that he has a chance to compete for a starting job next year. And that’s like every player that’s on our roster. It’s no different for Will. I see him in our facility; he’s working hard,” Brinker added.
“Everybody knows he’s a great kid, he’s a hard worker, and he’s going to give it everything he has. And we’re going to continue to work with Will Levis.”
The Initial Levis Trade Theory
Levis to Minnesota sprouted feet last week, thanks to Bleacher Report. BR’s Moe Moton spitballed, “According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Minnesota Vikings aren’t interested in Aaron Rodgers. They may prefer an experienced quarterback who can push J.J. McCarthy for the starting job rather than someone who expects to start over him.”
“If so, a young signal-caller who’s played in a notable number of regular-season games would be an ideal addition.”
Theoretically, Minnesota would basically obtain Levis for late-round draft capital, per the BR idea.
Moton added, “According to NFL insider Josina Anderson, the Titans ‘would like to transition’ from Will Levis. If McCarthy has a setback in his recovery from two meniscus tears or a rough offseason, Levis can provide veteran insurance until the Vikings get their quarterback of the future ready to lead the huddle.”
Titans’ QB Plan
Tennessee will choose first in 24 days when the 2025 NFL Draft gets underway. Miami’s Cam Ward is considered the top quarterback prize, and because Levis has not stood off the page through two NFL seasons, most mock drafts connect Ward to the Titans.
Because players like Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and C.J. Stroud have set the bar so high for young quarterbacks in their first campaigns as starters, NFL franchises often don’t afford young passers time to develop. Levis is the latest example. The Titans are ready to move on toward the next shiny thing.
Other QB2 Options for Vikings
The Vikings, meanwhile, still need a backup quarterback. If Levis is not an option — there’s a slight chance that Brinker is lying; general managers do that to drive up trade value — Minnesota will need a QB2 in 2025.
The options might be down to this list:
- Joe Flacco
- Case Keenum
- Trey Lance
- Drew Lock
- Ryan Tannehill
- Mike White
Compensatory Pick Formula in the Mix
Reporters asked Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah about his QB2 plan last week, and he responded that his team is mindful of next year’s compensatory draft pick formula.
Adofo-Mensah replied, “We’re trying to improve the team but are mindful of our compensatory pick situation and different things like that. We’re really just trying to be mindful of that, and the right way to, you know, set us up to succeed, but also be mindful of all the different factors we have.”
For instance, if the Vikings signed Case Keenum today or tomorrow, that move could wipe out a 2026 compensatory pick accumulated from Daniel Jones’ free-agent departure to the Indianapolis Colts.
Look for a QB2 to be procured after the draft.
Levis will turn 26 this summer. If he remains in Tennessee, the Titans coaching staff may have to navigate an awkward situation between him and Ward.
New Vikings Rumor Spreads Like Wildfire
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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