The Minnesota Vikings are trying to trade quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, according to Judd Zulgad and Chip Scoggins of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Specifically, the team has called other franchises to gauge the market for Jackson's services.

This doesn't mean a deal will be made, and it likewise doesn't mean that the Vikings will cut Jackson if they don't get an acceptable offer.

One thing that makes Jackson somewhat attractive is his contract. Quarterbacks with starting experience (20 games in three years, including playoffs) usually aren't available at a base salary of only $535,000.

As we've previously pointed out, one of the teams most likely to be interested in Jackson is the Packers. The Vikings would be stoopid to trade him to Green Bay, however; Jackson has intimate knowledge of the team's offense. And if there's no suitor for Jackson the smart move might be to keep him, because there's a chance he'd end up in green and gold.