With 16 days left until NFL free agency, many rumors within Minnesota Vikings circles will be adjudicated. Until then, the rumors continue, with the focus this week being on quarterbacks and — you guessed it — free agency.
Three Vikings rumors worth tracking: Richardson is on the rise, Hilton is linking up with Flores, and trade buzz is building for McCarthy.
The offseason is obviously more interesting when a team doesn’t have an official general manager.
advertise
The Purple Rumor Mill Before the NFL Combine
A look at this week’s purple gossip.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. throws during training camp at Great Park in Westfield, Indiana, on July 28, 2025, as coaches evaluate timing, footwork and arm strength before preseason games while teammates cycle through drills in a competitive summer training environment. Mandatory photo credit: Mykal McEldowney-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
rumor: Anthony Richardson is a key trade option for the Vikings.
Bleacher Report’Alex Kay mapped out four possible landing spots for Richardson, with the Vikings joining the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers on the list.
He wrote: “After going 14-3 under Sam Darnold in 2024, the Minnesota Vikings may be in the market for another rehab project. Richardson fits that bill as a promising talent, but he has yet to live up to the lofty expectations set by his first-round draft position.”
advertise
“While Minnesota will work hard to develop JJ McCarthy after a difficult sophomore season, the No. 10 pick in 2024 has proven to be injury-prone early in his NFL career. He has already missed his entire rookie season and seven games in 2025, making quarterback depth a top priority this offseason.”
Richardson isn’t perfect in Kevin O’Connell’s current scheme, but the physical advantages are still evident. The arm strength, mobility, and off-platform flash still pique the interest of many.
Kay added, “O’Connell seemed to believe that Richardson had real potential to develop into a superstar, despite a rocky start to his career. After Richardson came off the bench to back up Joe Flacco midway through the 2024 season and his Vikings defeated the Colts, O’Connell went out of his way to heap praise on the young quarterback.”
“Richardson could be a lot worse offseason than he would be if he landed in the Twins. He’ll have a prime opportunity to develop his game and could even end up starting if McCarthy gets injured again in 2026.”
advertise
This situation depends on how aggressive Minnesota wants to be at quarterback. If the Vikings don’t like a more experienced veteran pass rusher, they could explore an upside move like Richardson. Will Levi also falls into this category.
rumor: Minnesota could target veteran corner Mike Hilton in free agency.
pro football focusMason Cameron broke down the ideal landing spots for the NFL’s top five free agent cornerbacks this week, and Hilton somehow popped up to suit up for Minnesota. This raised some eyebrows, as Hilton isn’t typically among the most notable names in this year’s class. However, Cameron believes the Vikings are a natural fit. .
He wrote, “Top landing spot: Minnesota Vikings. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is known for running one of the most aggressive, blitz-style defenses in the NFL. This scheme requires a versatile cornerback play, especially in the slot where the Vikings often deploy Byron Murphy Jr. While Murphy is talented, he struggled inside in 2025, ranking sixth in PFF coverage grade in the slot (49.3).”
advertise
“Adding a full-time cornerback to better fill out the roster will allow Murphy to stay on the field where he can be much more efficient. While Mike Hilton’s playing time will be limited in 2025, his overall profile suggests he can contribute more in the right situation.”
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton reacts after a defensive stop during overtime against the Minnesota Vikings on Dec. 16, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, celebrating a fumble that changed the momentum of a tight game late in the game. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports.
Hilton’s calling card has always been his willingness to attack. He excels near the line of scrimmage and adapts easily to pressure-heavy structures, making Flores’ connection logical rather than surprising.
Cameron added, “Hilton can step in and elevate the slot role to a high level, as evidenced by his 76.3 slot PFF coverage grade since the start of 2023, which is the seventh-highest mark in the NFL during that time.”
advertise
“Additionally, the veteran cornerback can be used as a versatile weapon on the blitz, as he did previously with the Bengals and Steelers, where he has allowed seven or more pressures in every full season of his career.”
As a new hotel added in 2026, Hilton will act as a short-term stabilizer rather than a long-term solution. At 32 years old, he will be a steady presence who can solidify the position and boost the pressure package.
But he is not a long-term solution.
rumor: According to ESPN, JJ McCarthy already needs a change of scenery.
ESPN’s Aaron Schatz picked one player from each team this week who needs a “change of scenery.” For Minnesota, Schatz chose McCarthy.
advertise
Schatz explained, “This may never happen because it would be ridiculous for the Vikings to fire a player who still has first-round upside after 10 starts. However, for McCarthy, a fresh start in a different organization may be the best thing for his career.”
“Yes, you want a young quarterback to be as offensive-minded as Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell for the sake of his development. However, the Vikings were so bad under McCarthy last season that it would be best to get him out of the shadow of Super Bowl champion Sam Darnold.”
Minnesota Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy hugs a fan after a game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit on Nov. 2, 2025, sharing a postgame moment after the divisional game while supporters lingered near the tunnel to greet players as they left the field. Mandatory credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images.
Currently, McCarthy has three years of team control remaining on his rookie contract, and the only way to give McCarthy a chance to shine is to make a trade, presumably with the Vikings packaging a player into a better quarterback.
Schatz’s idea is unlikely to come to fruition, but it’s not impossible.