The NFL trade deadline arrives at 3 p.m. CT Tuesday, less than a day after the Minnesota Vikings host the Buffalo Bills on Monday night at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Carson Wentz gets the start under center for the second time this season while Kyler Murray is sidelined by a Grade 2 hamstring strain he suffered during the Vikings’ the 19-15 loss at Detroit on Nov. 1.

That injury, paired with a tough start for Murray in purple, has led to Minnesota being involved in trade rumors all week. As of Monday evening, the teams holding Daniel Jones, Kirk Cousins and Geno Smith have all shut the door on deals, but that could change depending on what happens during this crucial midseason football game.

Dan Orlovsky wants the Vikings open to anything at QB

And unless we see Carson Wentz throw it back to 2018 tonight and plays better than we’ve seen from the Vikings quarterback position all season, Dan Orlovsky (ESPN) believes adamantly that GM Nolan Teasley needs to do EVERYTHING in his power to upgrade QB before tomorrow at 3 p.m. CT.

On Monday’s episode of the Pat McAfee Show (live from U.S. Bank Stadium), Orlovsky said that if Minnesota’s offense struggles again tonight, no move — no matter how far-fetched it sounds — should be off the table on Tuesday.

“And so I want to see what the offense for Minnesota looks like tonight in relation to what it has for the majority of this season… If this offense looks pedestrian again, I just do not believe Minnesota can stand pat. I think anything is on the table at quarterback. And when I say anything, I quite literally mean anything. Even if it sounds outrageous to the NFL community, I think you have to start at like the most outrageous call you can make at quarterback and just work your way down the line… However fantasy stupid it sounds, if you’re in Minnesota and Carson struggles tonight and your offense looks bad and you lose again 17-14 or something, like you can’t. You can’t waste the offense two years in a row.”

It isn’t the first time he’s questioned Minnesota’s offense this season. On Get Up in late October, Orlovsky said he’d take the Packers over the Vikings because “their offense is not good,” which we also covered at the time.

The Minnesota Vikings may be pushing back on QB trade ideas prior to the game tonight against Buffalo. Playing into the rumors wouldn’t help them win this game, so that makes sense. But Orlovsky sees the forest through the trees.

Barring some sort of quarterback miracle tonight, the Vikings must upgrade at quarterback if they are going to have any confidence entering the late stages of the 2026 regular season, and hopefully the playoffs.

Carson Wentz gets his shot against Buffalo

Wentz relieved Murray in Week 1, after he was knocked out of the game 11 snaps in. He then started Week 2 at Chicago, while Kyler was in concussion protocol. On the season, the former No. 1 overall draft pick is 23-of-39 passing for 276 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

The Bills enter U.S. Bank Stadium tonight as 3-point road favorites, and ESPN’s FPI gives the Bills a 63.6% chance to win. After the final whistle, the Vikings will have about 16 hours to decide whether a big swing at quarterback efore the deadline is worth it.