Minnesota Vikings are linked with explosive quarterback whom Kevin O’Connell has long admired
Anthony Richardson is officially on the trade market, and the Minnesota Vikings have been linked.
Everyone in the world knows that the Minnesota Vikings need to add a quarterback in a desperate way. J.J. McCarthy is far from a certainty at quarterback, and the Vikings have been consistent in their message about adding competition in the quarterback room.
“I think there has to be [competition],” said head coach Kevin O’Connell in Tuesday’s press conference. “I think that’s what’s going to make everybody better in that room. It’s going to be what makes our entire offense thrive through that competition.”
Anthony Richardson linked to the Minnesota Vikings via trade
What better way to foster competition than to actually have one? The Indianapolis Colts have given quarterback Anthony Richardson permission to seek a trade. It’s not a surprise when you consider Daniel Jones beat him for the starting quarterback job last August in training camp.
It also shouldn’t be much of a surprise to see that the Vikings have been linked to a trade for Richardson.
Richardson is going to shoot up to the top of the trade market due to his insane toolset. Coaches who are deemed quarterback gurus or whisperers are going to want to try to fix him. That’s where O’Connell comes into play.
They loved Richardson during the process of the 2023 NFL Draft, and reportedly made a significant offer to the Arizona Cardinals to trade up to third overall to get him. That didn’t end up happening because the Cardinals didn’t want to move down that far. Where things get interesting is what happens now that Richardson is available.
We know that O’Connell loves Richardson, and he said so when the Vikings and Colts played on Sunday night football. NFL Films cameras caught the interaction.
Don’t be surprised if the Vikings swing a deal for the high-upside quarterback, and it would be a major shift on offense.