We know that the Minnesota Vikings are going to be addressing the quarterback position this offseason. Head coach Kevin O’Connell wants to bring in a quarterback to harbor competition in the room with the hopes of bringing out the best in quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

The discussion about who will end up being added to the Vikings’ quarterback room has mainly boiled down to two players: Kyler Murray and Geno Smith. Unfortunately for the Vikings, their options are dwindling.

Geno Smith heads to the New York Jets

One day before Smith was likely to be released, the Las Vegas Raiders found a way to trade him, as the New York Jets agreed to a trade for a 6/7 pick swap.

Trade: the Raiders are sending QB Geno Smith and a 2026 7th-round pick to the New York Jets in exchange for a 2026 6th-round pick, per ESPN sources. Smith returns to the team for which he started his NFL career for in 2013. pic.twitter.com/xp7gvXxYJf

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2026

It’s a big trade for the Raiders. Even though they are reportedly going to eat the majority of the salary, the Raiders were going to have to pay it anyway. This at least gets them an improved draft pick on day three.

Smith gets to go back to the team that drafted him. Things weren’t great in his initial stint after being a second-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. His career took a turn for the worst when IK Enemkpali punched him in the locker room and it essentially ended his tenure as the Jets’ starter.

He rejuvenated his career with the Seattle Seahawks and is now set to return to where it all began.

Text from a pumped #Jets QB Geno Smith: "Complete full circle moment back to where it all began. I’m excited to connect with my new teammates and coaches and everyone in the building as well as build a new relationship with the fan base and community."

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2026

For the Vikings, it takes an option they were seriously considering off the table. He would have fit O’Connell’s offense to a T. Ultimately, this makes landing Murray that much more important for the Vikings to land.

If they don’t land him, the narrative from last year with Kwesi Adofo-Mensah of not being able to keep either Daniel Jones or Sam Darnold.

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